Hong Kong public libraries should disclose books pulled from shelves, give reasons for censorship so authors can appeal: government adviser
- Member of Public Libraries Advisory Committee also says books about city’s social movements should not be censored, so long as they are factual accounts
- ‘Authors should be informed if their books are removed and offered an explanation,’ committee member adds
Hong Kong’s public libraries should establish a mechanism for disclosing books pulled from their shelves and explain the reasons for the decision to allow authors of censored titles a chance to appeal, a government adviser has said.
Chui Yat-hung, who sits on the Public Libraries Advisory Committee, on Wednesday also said that books about local social movements should not be censored if they were factual accounts of political events, rather than subjective ones.
“They are history after all,” he told a radio programme.
Hours after Chui made the remarks, members of the 23-strong committee were told by its secretariat to refrain from speaking to the media, the Post learned.
Two school principals, who spoke to the Post on condition of anonymity, said they were confused about whether they could make books removed by authorities available to students.