Editorial | Art book ban by Hong Kong jail calls for rules review

It sounds unthinkable, even absurd, when the Birth of Venus, a Renaissance masterpiece by Botticelli, becomes a subject of scrutiny by a Hong Kong court. It raises further eyebrows when prison guards deem a history book featuring the famous artwork as “obscene” and ban an opposition activist from reading it while pending a ruling on national security charges.

The judicial review sought by Owen Chow Ka-shing, one of 47 charged with conspiracy to subvert state power by plotting to paralyse the government via an unofficial Legislative Council primary in 2020, is now a matter for the court to decide. But it would not be surprising if many people also find the jail ban questionable.

According to the writ, a friend of Chow applied for permission to give him a book on European history and culture in September, but the book was returned with a memo saying “Nudity! Return!” Currently, those in custody may receive publications from outside as long as they do not encourage violence or criminal offences, contain information on manufacturing weapons or harmful substances, facilitate gambling, or pose a threat to personal safety or to the security, good order and discipline of the prison.

The painting in question is one of the world’s most celebrated artworks; and the book does not seem to have breached any of these rules.

We do not know how a book on the history of art can be branded obscene because of a single artwork featuring some form of nudity. Nor do we know whether the ban stemmed from well-established guidelines and procedures or just the view of an officer.