Youth barred from half-naked shows

SUFFICIENT measures had been taken to protect teenagers from being influenced by scantily-dressed European dancers at a Lai Chi Kok theatre, the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) said yesterday.

Commissioner for TELA Mrs Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan said an additional condition for issuing the theatre permit called for the dancers' performance costumes to be shown in photographs submitted for inspection in advance.

''We have adopted a tighter standard than the film censorship programme as no scenes of nude dancers are permitted during the performance,'' Mrs Rita Lau said.

''We have restricted such real-life performance to adult audiences as we realise its possible adverse influence on teenagers.'' The Moulin Rouge-style show will make its local debut at the Palladium Opera House, next to the Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park, on July 15.

The Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL) strongly opposed the plan to have Category III performances in a theatre surrounded by residential areas and social venues for teenagers.

The group said the procedures for granting the permit should not follow the one adopted for nightclubs, arguing that Category III performances in a residential-area theatre was a distinctively different case.

The ADPL believed the response of residents in the district should be an important consideration in granting such a permit.