9719725, 611 PM Hong Kong to scour ol fms for subversive thames under new censorship law | Hong Keng] The Guardian TCU MEO oem a UMA Cieu Cy RBS Rama OR ( Hong Kong to scour old films for subversive themes under new censorship law 5 Aug 2021 06 46 BST will scrutinise past films for national security breaches under a tough new censorship law in the latest blow to the city’s political and artistic freedoms. Authorities announced in June that the financial hub’s censorship board would check any future films for content that breached the security law. But on Tuesday they unveiled a new, hardened censorship law that would also cover any titles that had previously been given a green light. “any film for public exhibition, past, present and future, will need to get approval,” the commerce secretary, Edward Yau, said. Authorities have embarked on a sweeping crackdown to root out Beijing’s critics after democracy protests convulsed the financial hub two years ago. A new, China- imposed security law and an official campaign dubbed “Patriots rule Hong Kong” has since criminalised much dissent and strangled the democracy movement. hitps:lwwuztheguardian.comfworld:202"/aug/2Sihong-kong-t-scour-ol¢-ims-fr-subversve-themes-under-new-censorship-aw 7123, 6:11 PM Hong Kong te scour ol lms for subversive thames under new censorship law | Hong Kong| The Guardian The security law bans anything authorities deem to be secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces. Almost alll those arrested under the law have been democracy activists. A legislative brief given to reporters on Tuesday mentioned recent documentaries that “glorified” or “incited” protests. The new law must be approved by the city’s legislature - a near certainty, given it has been purged of any opposition over the past year. The maximum sentence for showing illegal films will be increased to up to three years’ jail and a HK$1m ($130,000) fine. Titles deemed a national security risk by censors will not be able to appeal via the usual channels. Instead, they will have to launch a judicial review in Hong Kong’s courts, a long and costly legal procedure. Authorities can also revoke viewing licences of venues that show titles deemed “contrary to the interests of national security”. The law will bring Hong Kong much closer to the Chinese mainland, where films are rigorously vetted and only a handful of western movies or documentaries see a commercial release each year. Hong Kong historically boasted a thriving film scene and for much of the latter half of the last century, Cantonese cinema was world class. The city still maintains some key studios, a handful of lauded directors and a thriving indie scene, but new political red lines are being drawn each month. The announcement of Tuesday’s new censorship law came as Nicole Kidman is filming an Amazon-funded series in the city based on a book about the gilded lives of the city’s “expats”. Authorities allowed Kidman and her film crew to skip Covid quarantine, sparking public anger last week. ... as youre joining us today from Brazil, we have a small favour to ask. Tens of millions have placed their trust in the Guardian’s high-impact journalism since we started publishing 200 years ago, turning to us in moments of crisis, uncertainty, solidarity and hope. More than 1.5 million readers, from 180 countries, have recently taken the step to support us financially - keeping us open to all, and fiercely independent. hitps:lwwuztheguardian.comfworld/202"/aug/2Sihong-kong-to-scour-olé-lms-fr-subversve-themes-under-new-censorship-aw 2819723, 614 PM Hong Kong o scour od fis for subversive themes under new censorship aw | Hong Kong |The Guardian With no shareholders or billionaire owner, we can set our own agenda and provide trustworthy journalism that’s free from commercial and political influence, offering a counterweight to the spread of misinformation. When it’s never mattered more, we can investigate and challenge without fear or favour. Unlike many others, Guardian journalism is available for everyone to read, regardless of what they can afford to pay. We do this because we believe in information equality. 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