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Hong Kong: Indecent Censorship Practice

Categories: East Asia, Hong Kong (China), Freedom of Speech, Law, Photography

ESWN translated a poll on a recent court case about Obscene Articles Tribunal's (OAT) classification on indecency [1]. A majority of the interviewees said that OAT's classification are chaotic while The Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority doesn't know how to differentiate art and pornography.

Recently three newspapers (Ta Kung Pao, Wen Hui Po and Sing Pao) were charged with publishing a Class I: Indecent photograph of a topless female British soldier. Ta Kung Pao and Wen Hui Po admitted fault and paid their fines. Sing Pao refused to plead guilty and contested the classification. Upon review by the Obscene Articles Tribunal, the photograph was reclassified as Class I: Neither Indecent Nor Obscene, and Sing Pao was not guilty.