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The Media, Communications and information Technology

The Board of Review (Film Censorship), established under the Film Censorship Ordinance, is empowered to review the film censors' decisions on film classifications upon request. The board comprises nine non-official members appointed by the Chief Executive, plus the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development as an ex officio member.

Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance

The policy objective in regulating obscene and indecent articles is to preserve public morals and protect young people from the harmful effects of obscene and indecent materials while preserving the free flow of information and safeguarding freedom of expression. The publication (including distribution, circulation and sale) and public display of obscene and indecent articles (including printed matter, sound-recordings, video-tapes, discs and electronic publications) is regulated by the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance.

Under the ordinance, 'obscenity' and 'indecency' include violence, depravity and repulsiveness. An article may be classified as Class I (neither obscene nor indecent), Class II (indecent), or Class III (obscene). The relevant enforcement agencies (the Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration, the Police, and the Customs and Excise Department) and the Secretary for Justice may submit articles to the Obscene Articles Tribunal for classification. Publishers, authors, printers, manufacturers, importers, distributors and copyright owners may also voluntarily submit articles to the Tribunal for classification rulings before publication if in doubt.

The government is reviewing the ordinance and is considering the way forward having regard to views received in the public consultation conducted in 2012.

Websites

Access to Government Information: www.access.gov.hk

Commerce and Economic Development Bureau: www.cedb.gov.hk

(links to related departments and agencies)

Communications Authority: www.coms-auth.hk

Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau: www.cmab.gov.hk

Cyberport: www.cyberport.com.hk

Cyber Security Information Portal: www.cybersecurity.hk

Digital audio broadcasting: www.digitalradio.gov.hk

Digital television: www.digitaltv.gov.hk

Digital 21 Strategy: www.digital21.gov.hk

Government's e-bulletin: www.news.gov.hk

Home Affairs Bureau: www.hab.gov.hk

Hongkong Post: www.hongkongpost.hk

Information Services Department: www.isd.gov.hk

InfoSec: www.infosec.gov.hk

Office of the Communications Authority: www.ofca.gov.hk

Public Sector Information Portal: www.data.gov.hk

Radio Television Hong Kong: www.rthk.org.hk

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