I REFER to Brendan Delfino's article headlined, 'Film industry reels at threat to ban Category III adverts' (South China Morning Post, October 11). I am afraid your 'industry sources' have misunderstood our policy intention. What we have proposed, and discussed at length with various associations representing the film industry, is that all advertisng materials for Category III films should in future be submitted to the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) for vetting before they are displayed in public. The purposes of such compulsory censorship are twofold. First, it aims to prevent members of the public from being offended by indecent advertising materials. Secondly, it sets out to provide a quick and efficient way in which members of the film industry can ensure that the advertising materials to be used by them do comply with the law. The proposal, based on the views of about 90 per cent of the respondents in a recent public opinion survey, has received the support of practically all the groups we have consulted. The associations representing the film industry have not only supported the proposal, but have made a joint representation that the proposed compulsory censorship be extended to include also advertising materials for Categories I and II films. We are studying their proposal with particular regard to its implications on the freedom of expression enshrined in the Bill of Rights Ordinance. The Administration's plan is to introduce the necessary legislative amendments to the Legislative Council in early 1995. Wu Kam-yin, for Secretary for Recreation and Culture
