Underground bands fear for their lyrics

FEARS of censorship of songs after the handover will be discussed by scores of music industry heavyweights at this week's Midem Asia convention.

Local musical industry chiefs say pop music could face censorship after the handover despite guarantees of freedom of speech in the Basic Law.

The issue will take precedence at several seminars during the three-day event at the Convention and Exhibition Centre from Wednesday.

About 3,000 delegates are expected to attend the annual event, the third hosted by Hong Kong, as record companies scramble to expand further into the region, particularly China.

Asian regional director of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, Giouw Jui-chian, said mass-appeal Canto-pop songs faced little threat of censorship because of their inoffensive 'sugar-coated' lyrics.

But the rapidly growing contingent of underground bands, now releasing their music independently, gave cause for concern.

Suggestive or political lyrics, particularly about the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and freedoms on the mainland, are common topics among the new bands.