Letters | Why Hong Kong’s new film censorship rules should be taken online

I refer to your July 14 poll question titled “Film Studies”, relating to the Hong Kong commerce chief’s dismissal of lawmakers’ calls to censor online films, asking whether this was practicable or necessary and urging more public discussion.

I previously wrote that the new censorship guidelines stand to reason, and noted that the scope of the new rules was yet to be clarified – whether it considers all forms of enacted expressions, including self-uploaded videos on platforms such as YouTube. My opinion was that alternate forms of media have dedicated audiences, and standards set for films should also apply to them.

In response to lawmakers including the Liberal Party’s Peter Shiu Ka-fai at a recent Legislative Council panel meeting, Commerce and Economic Development Secretary Edward Yau Tang-wah asked if it was feasible to censor films uploaded online and if there was a need to do this. I think such a stance will add to the ambiguity around the new censorship rules and create unwarranted scepticism.

If this is the interpretation, it will hasten the downfall of Hong Kong cinema and further jeopardise the livelihoods of people associated with it.

Hong Kong cinemas were closed for most of the pandemic, and it is only recently that they have been allowed to reopen under strict social-distancing requirements.