Hong Kong motion picture rating system
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Hong Kong motion picture rating system (Traditional: 香港電影分級制度, Simplified: 香港电影分级制度) is a legal system of movie screening and rating. Unlike its counterparts in the United States, an official government agency issues ratings for any movie that will be shown in Hong Kong movie theatres, instead of a private institution.
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[edit] History
Since the beginning of the film industry in Hong Kong, there were no age restrictions for films, they were made under a strict guidelines which for instance actors had to be portrayed to not be allowed to get away with their crimes and sex scenes were not permitted. In 1986, with the release of A Better Tomorrow, the general public became concerned about the influence the film would do for childrens, so therefore, as a result, the Hong Kong motion picture rating system was established under the Movie Screening Ordinance Cap.392 on 10 November 1988. The purpose behind the law is to provide parents of minors a chance to prevent their children from being exposed to inappropriate materials.
The ratings are issued by the Hong Kong Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA), and initially provided three levels of ratings, which led to the slang term "three-tier ratings" (Chinese: 三級制) being used in popular usage.
In 1995, the ratings were amended, creating three levels of main ratings, and two subratings for one level.
[edit] Legal Requirements
According to the laws of Hong Kong, any movies that are intended to be shown in Hong Kong cinemas or released to the public via any videotape or disc formats must screened by the TELA and have a rating issued by its director. Only educational movies and movie trailers do not receive ratings.
If a movie is rated as a Third Level film (Chinese: 三級片), its promotional materials must also be screened by TELA. In addition, any videotape or discs that will be sold must be sealed by plastic bagging before it can be sold.
[edit] Ratings System
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Of the four levels, Levels I, IIA, and IIB are advisory ratings only, and carry no legal effect. Only Level III forbid a certain portion of the population from watching the film. Ticket sellers in movie theatres have a legal right to check the identity of a person who wishes to watch a Level III film to ensure legal compliance.
[edit] Misconceptions, Fictional Ratings
Level III has often been misconstrued by many as a rating for pornographic productions. In reality, Level III films can be pornographic productions as well as movies that contain extremely violent contents. Oftentimes, popular actors who are minors in Hong Kong will participate in the filming of films that will eventually receive a Level III rating, and be legally forbidden to watch the production in public until they reach the age of 18.
The public has invented a fictional Level IV designation (Chinese: 四級電影, slang term: 四仔) to describe pornographic productions that are forbidden by the Hong Kong government to be shown or sold in Hong Kong. There is no official designation for motion pictures that are forbidden from sale or distribution in Hong Kong. In cases where the movie in question is child pornography, simply having a copy of such materials in possession is in violation of Hong Kong law.
