Complaints lodged against the government's constitutional reform commercials have prompted calls for a review of the 'outdated' Broadcasting Authority ban on political advertising. The Broadcasting Authority Ordinance states that a television station shall not 'include in its service any advertisement of a religious or political nature'. But Section 23 of the law says the requirements do not apply 'in the case of material supplied by the government'. Section 11 of the ordinance goes on to say that the authority's powers to refer complaints to its Complaints Committee do not apply with regard to 'any script or material supplied for broadcasting by the government', and that such complaints should be referred to the government. A spokesman for the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority said that Announcements in the Public Interest were effectively exempt from the general ban on political advertising. 'If the Broadcasting Authority receives any complaints about any materials supplied by the government, it is obliged to refer the matter to the government,' he said. 'Licensees also do not bear any responsibility for materials of a political nature supplied by the government.' Article 45 Concern Group lawmaker Audrey Eu Yuet-mee questioned why there was a ban on political advertising in the first place. 'Does it mean the government is allowed to give political propaganda and brainwashing but nobody else can counter that by putting an opposing view?' she said. 'The government already has an advantage over any non-governmental body with their huge propaganda machine. Shouldn't the rule of fairness operate so that people who hold opposing views have an equal chance?' Democrat Sin Chung-kai, said the legislation hailed from colonial times and ought to be looked at for review.