Save the young souls
New films classification system staggers forward with a mission
by Josephine Wong
N ew development in technol- ogy is probably deemed as novelty. However, new classi- fication for film censorship may be regarded as triviality.
Since 17 November 1995, the existing three-tier classification system has experienced a new change under the supervision of Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority. The major change is that Category II is now further subdivided into Category IIA and IIB.
Under the new system, no changes will be made for films of Category I and III. As usual, Category I film is suitable for all ages and Category III film is only for people aged 18 or above. Now, Category IIA film is not suitable for children and IIB film is not suitable for young people and children.
The TELA had consulted Industry Association, Hong Kong Theatre Association, Hong Kong Director Association, Movie Picture Distributor Association, Movie Picture Industry Association and Hong Kong Video Industry Association for the change.
According to the Hong Kong Director Association, two consultation meetings were held. The Director Association disagreed with the TELA’s first suggestion of restricting children of 15-year-old or below from watching Category II films. Later, the TELA proposed another policy by subdividing Category II films into IIA and IIB. Without much opposition, the new policy was passed and came into enactment.
According to Mr. W.Y. Wan, the executive officer of film section of the TELA, the new classification is the result of a public opinion survey completed in 1994.
Said he: “Our chief aim is to provide parents and teenagers with more guidance and information of a film, so that they can know the extent of violence, horror, sexuality or indecent language in a particular film.
“The former classification didn’t provide a clear picture of Category II films. Viewers only know that they are not suitable for children. But the definition of ‘children’ is not clear and the boundary for Category II is too large. That’s the reason why we want to refine the old system.”
Mr. Wan said that the catalyst for the change of the classification can be traced back to the Jurassic Park. Many parents brought their children to see this movie, but many children got frightened after seeing it. This reminded the government to set up new regulations.
Category I and II are advisory in nature. Only Category III is strictly and legally enforced. There is no monitoring or law-enforcing unit to check the age of audience when they watch Category II films.
Mr. Wan saw it as an advantage of high flexibility of the classification. He emphasized that the new system would minimize the restriction on the freedom in selecting films of audience.
However, without straight rules or punishment from government, the new classification is merely a poster warning. Its effectiveness totally depends on the self-discipline of movie-goers.
Mr. Chiu Wai Kin, a film critics, said, “The new system makes me even more confusing. I think that the TELA should specify the exact age to see IIA and IIB films if they want the policy work.”
Indeed, the film classification has always been regarded as too ambiguous to inhibit the unqualified viewers from seeing Category III films.
Although the new Film Censorship Ordinance also restricted the unqualified viewers to rent prohibited home videos and laser discs, it is not strictly implemented.
According to Dr. Wai Chan, a lecturer of the department of psychology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, most youngsters are immature under the spoon-feeding education system in Hong Kong. Youngsters may not have the ability to choose films suitable for themselves.
Many research about movies’ influence on children and teenagers were done and psychologists agree that there is a positive relationship between watching violent films and violent behaviour.
Said Dr. Chan: “Young children tend to copy the actions and images of films.
“Experiments show that they will become more emotional and violent after watching violent films,” he said.
However, Dr. Chan said, film directors held a different view. They agree that films have some influence on children, but emphasize that the influences of television programmes, magazines and advertisements are much greater than that of films.
Undoubtedly, the government has the responsibility to keep an eye on the production of films so as to safeguard the interests of children and teenagers, but this brings great pressure and dissatisfaction for the film-making industry.
Both Dr. Chan and Mr. Chiu thought that the new classification is meaningless and useless.
They prefer a much more liberal four-category film classification to this system and concluded that the film censorship in Hong Kong is “over-conservative” and “restricted”.
Dr. Chan said that members of the United States censorship board are comprised of media workers and film industry professionals.
However, members of the censorship unit in Hong Kong are chosen by the Governor or through voting system. Thus, the Commissioner of TELA may have no knowledge of the film industry.
“The TELA should include educational professionals and media workers in the censorship unit so as to make fair judgement. It should not be dominated by a small group of people.
“Films always become the scapegoat. Other forms of medium are not tested or censored before they are released or published. It’s very unfair to us.
“Only an objective and reasonable film censorship system is acceptable to film-makers and film-producers,” Mr. Chan concluded.
