The Film Censors
Copyright©1993 Evans and Savidge
By Warwick Evans
Chief Censor:
It's not easy being a television censor in Hong Kong.
Assistant Censor:
So many important decisions to make.
Chief Censor:
To protect public morals.
Assistant Censor:
And sensitivities.
Chief Censor:
Take this movie for example. This scene is totally unacceptable.
Assistant Censor:
It's depraved.
Chief Censor:
I mean, look at it. A young girl tells a boy she loves him, and then pulls off her blouse and goes for a swim in the lake.
Assistant Censor:
Disgusting! It'll offend the locals.
Chief Censor:
Well, it's bare breasts, you see. I shall have to cut the entire scene.
Assistant Censor:
Is it like this all the way through? What about the previous scene.
Chief Censor:
Oh, there was nothing wrong at all in the previous scene. Same girl, trying to break
into an arms depot to steal explosives. Suddenly interrupted by young military officer.
So she points her AK-
Assistant Censor:
You don't think it's too much for the children to see?
Chief Censor:
What do you mean? She kept her blouse on, didn't she?
