Naked actress photograph goes under tribunal's microscope

The Obscene Articles Tribunal yesterday began a full hearing to consider a recent Eastweek magazine cover story that featured a photograph of actress Rachel Lee Lai-chun naked.

Last month the tribunal gave an interim classification to the report of 'indecent' - or Class II under the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance.

The August 18 report in the weekly tabloid concerned Lee's alleged relationship with a married hairstylist. It included a photograph, lifted from the cover of an album of nude photographs of the actress.

Lim Kuen, of the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority, told yesterday's hearing the tribunal made the interim classification on the grounds that the story was not acceptable to reasonable members of the community because people of any age could buy the mass-circulation magazine.

Mr Lim said the actress was striking a seductive pose in the photograph, which clearly showed the size and shape of her breasts. Her lower body was covered by print.

East Week Publishing requested a full hearing after it received the classification notice.