Edward Yau: security law protects free speech

The Commerce Minister, Edward Yau, has rejected accusations that an amendment to the film censorship law to ban movies that could endanger national security will compromise freedom of speech.

Speaking on a radio programme on Saturday, the official said the mini constitution and the security law both upheld the concept of freedom of speech.

“Both the national security law and the Basic Law state clearly that the freedoms we treasure, like the freedoms of speech and creation, are protected,” he said.

Yau said only one of the 400 movies recently submitted to censors was not approved for public viewing, after film censors were ordered in June to ban films deemed to be supporting or glorifying acts that could endanger national security.

The official said the administration proposed the Film Censorship (Amendment) Bill to set out the requirement explicitly and to provide it with clear statutory backing. It will be tabled to Legco next week for its first and second reading.