The government further proposed to amend the Electricity Inspection Regulations, requiring inspectors to consider whether a film’s release would be "not conducive to national security." Films that have been approved for release are also restricted. If the Chief Secretary for Administration believes that a film is unfavorable to national security, the approval may be revoked Certificates and DVDs of related movies are also not available for distribution or sale.
Tian Qiwen, spokesperson for the Hong Kong Film Workers Association, described that the amendments were changed to "not conducive" to national security, covering a wider range, and there will be many interpretations. The industry can only see steps: It’s the swordsman team. You decide two things.”
However, the Legislative Council Member of Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publishing, Ma Fengguo, said that under the National Security Act, film creators and operators should safeguard national security and believe that the amendment will not It will affect creative freedom, because the producer can make a lot of adjustments in the editing process, such as deleting words and dialogues, and there is still room for it.
Ma Fengguo.
(Profile picture)
Legislative Council Member for Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publishing, Ma Fengguo, said on a TV and TV program today (25th) that the content announced by the government yesterday is only legislation and increased penalties, which is not much different from what was said in June.
He pointed out that since the National Security Law has been implemented in Hong Kong, everyone must abide by it, and film creators and operators should maintain national security.
When the film passes the censorship, the producer does not have to take responsibility, but gives everyone protection.
He said that he understood that some people think that the regulations regulate creation, but he thinks that it is a clearer clarification of responsibilities.
Ma Fengguo’s amendment does not affect creative freedom: it’s not one size fits all
He believes that the amendment will not affect the freedom of creation, because the producer can make a lot of adjustments in the editing process, such as deleting the words and dialogues, "there is still room, there is no one-size-fits-all." When there is a dispute, the producer can appeal or file for judicial review. And so on, it should not be judged at the moment which themes cannot be broadcast.
He went on to say that if the entire movie is released indefinitely, the people who are really affected most are investors. This is a problem that distributors have to face and they should give full consideration to it.
Film scholars worry about the chilling effect "Domestic Lingling Paint" may also be detrimental to national security
Wu Guokun, associate professor of the School of Communication and Film at HKBU, said that the term "not conducive to national security" used in this amendment is regarded as "really severe." The term "endangering national security" used by the government refers to direct and severe criticism, while the term "unfavorable" is ambiguous. , Extensive and vague.
For example, he said, comedies such as "Domestic Lingling Paint" with satirical plots of officials' corruption, obviously do not directly endanger national security, but whether it is harmful to national security depends on how the inspector interprets it.
He believes that the regulations will bring a chilling effect to the industry, and producers will become more cautious, or even overly cautious, and it will take time to explore the bottom line.
The survival of filmmakers will be more difficult. They must try to avoid the red line and make films with social significance. The themes may be transferred to urban romance films, literary films, martial arts films, etc.
Wu Guokun believes that the regulations pose a major blow to independent film production. Some films record political issues in the past, and the room for survival under the National Security Law is already quite small.
He pointed out that independent films can still be produced on social issues such as weak communities; however, if social events are obviously involved, the space for circulation is very small, and it is not easy to be shown locally, and may be transferred to foreign countries.
+3
Director Zhang Wanting doesn't understand "not conducive". Can "Cousin Hello" pass?
Veteran film director Zhang Wanting said that he does not understand what is meant by "not conducive to national security." The industry has many question marks about the amendments, and even the government cannot give a definite answer, such as whether the satirical comedy "Hello Cousin" can pass the test.
Currently, there are no illegal cases to comply with. The industry does not know which movies have touched the red line. As a director, she will continue to shoot things that are worthy of feeling and will not self-censor.
Zhang Wanting believes that the distribution of films is the most affected, because the Chief Secretary for Administration will have the right to extend the release of films for up to 28 days each time, and the number of times seems to be unlimited.
In the past approval process, the appeal committee can be opened at the latest 35 days; in the future, if the film involves national security issues, the government can directly cancel the release. There will be no deadline for judicial review, and the release schedule will inevitably be missed. This will cause investment failures and worry the industry.
Tian Qiwen: The difference between the two is only for the knife team. You set the other two.
Tian Qiwen, spokesman for the Hong Kong Film Workers Association, described in a commercial program that the revision of the electrical overhaul regulations was changed from "harmful" to "not conducive" to national security in June, covering a wider area and having broader interpretation powers, as "harmful" involved Certain forms and behaviors, but "unfavorable" will be interpreted in many ways. In addition, the authorities have not explained what is unfavorable to national security. The industry can only see steps: "But the difference is only to set the knife team and you can decide the two." Tian Qiwen I believe that the amendment will have little effect on the investment intentions of traditional film investors, but new investors or "outsiders" investors will be discouraged because of more constraints.
Electricity Inspection Regulations | After the amendment is involved in adverse national security, there is no appeal and inspectors can search without a warrant. The Electricity Inspection Regulations | Tian Qiwen sighs at walking and Zhou Guanwei is concerned about documentary investors’ loss of confidence. The mayor may instruct the ban on filming and electricity inspection ordinances | Will quasi-screening of films be equivalent to a violation of the National Security Law?
Qiu Tenghua: Non-exempt gold medal
01News