The Legislative Council passed the "Film Censorship (Amendment) Bill 2021" in its third reading today (27th).
At the meeting, many established legislators supported the bill. Lu Chung-hsiung of the Federation of Trade Unions was concerned about whether the regulations did not cover online streaming platforms and whether it would constitute a loophole.
The proposed amendments stipulate in the Electricity Inspection Ordinance that film inspectors must consider whether the release of films will be detrimental to national security; at the same time, the Chief Secretary for Administration is empowered to revoke the approval certificate and prohibit distribution and sale .
The amendment also stipulates the relevant authorities, the powers that can be exercised for national security reasons, the relevant penalties, and the operation of law enforcement.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Yau Tenghua, said that network regulation goes beyond the original intent of the regulations and involves other policy, technology, and law enforcement considerations, requiring longer preparation and research.
Lu Songxiong of the Federation of Trade Unions said that movies need to be checked, and the United States also has its own red line and bottom line. "You don’t think there is a production company, filming a movie frame that praises bin Laden, praises terrorist organizations, praises Al-Qaeda. You won’t be filming in the United States. People are afraid of attacking, and they are all responsible. Don’t shoot it!” He believes that the current framework of the Electricity Inspection Regulations is outdated and does not include online streaming platforms. He is worried that it will become a loophole. "Prohibited movies" and then play them on online streaming platforms.
Qiu Tenghua: If it takes a longer time to regulate the network
According to Pakatan Harapan Leung Mei Fen, this amendment came too late, emphasizing that freedom of expression is not absolute. According to international regulations, national security can be a reasonable reason to restrict freedom to a limited extent.
She recalled that she watched the movie "Ten Years" in the theater that year, and she criticized the movie for spreading hatred and Mandarin messages, romanticizing hunger strikes and self-immolation, and inciting Hong Kong independence. , No supervision?"
Liang pointed out that film is a soft force that affects young people. "It poisons young people to break the law, hate their own country, and even violate the national security law, becoming young people who pursue terrorism. The ideology is unwelcome all over the world, and they must all be blocked. We can't open the middle door."
Qiu Tenghua said that he hopes that the regulations will come into effect as soon as possible and improve the electrical inspection regulations to plug loopholes.
He said that if network regulation is implemented, it will go beyond the original intent and scope of the ordinance, and will also involve other policy, technology, and law enforcement considerations, requiring longer preparation and research.
01News
Electric overhaul cases ︱ survey: 16% of the respondents feel that the creative space is narrowing down the industry’s worries. The revision of the self-review electric inspection regulations is completed. Item by item will be reviewed. The second reading will be resumed next month. Completion of inspections of films and restricted electricity inspections before entry into force︱ Qiu Tenghua: The Secretary of State and the National Security Commission may consider factors other than professional factors to ban the inspection of electricity Ordinance | Chief Secretary for Administration may revoke the issuance permission to actually implement the Electric Inspection Ordinance with multiple unanswered questions
