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The Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) will strengthen its promotion and education activities to protect children and youngsters from exposure to objectionable materials this summer vacation.
These activities include launching the "Promoting the Use of Filtering Software" Subsidy Programme to raise parents' awareness of the importance of installing filtering software, and promoting the requirements of the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance (COIAO) to the exhibitors of the Hong Kong Book Fair 2008.
A spokesman for TELA said, "During the summer vacation, children and youngsters often spend a longer time surfing the web. However, not all materials on the Internet are suitable for them. We appeal to parents to maintain an open dialogue with their children, give them proper guidance on web surfing, and install filtering software in their computers to protect their children from being exposed to indecent or even obscene materials."
TELA this year launched the Subsidy Programme, which has so far gained support from over 100 secondary and primary schools. Schools are invited to organise talks and workshops to introduce to parents different filtering software and installation procedures. Free filtering software will be distributed to parents attending the talks and workshops. Parents can also visit TELA¡¦s website at www.tela.gov.hk/english/care.htm for more information.
The Book Fair, to be held from July 23 to 29 this year, is a popular annual event among youngsters. As in the past, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has signed an agreement with the exhibitors that only Class I articles (neither obscene nor indecent) under the COIAO are to be put on sale or exhibited during the Book Fair. The HKTDC will deploy staff to conduct checks to ensure the compliance with the agreement.
"For the coming Book Fair, TELA will emphasise promoting and explaining the requirements of the COIAO," the spokesman said.
He added that to help exhibitors comply with the COIAO and prevent youngsters from gaining access to indecent or obscene materials inside the venue, TELA had issued letters and handed out leaflets on the COIAO to the exhibitors through the HKTDC in June this year, reminding them that articles in doubt could be sent to the Obscene Articles Tribunal for classification before the fair.
The spokesman said, "Before the Book Fair commences, staff members of TELA will visit the persons-in-charge of the book stalls on site inside the venue to promote and elaborate on the requirements of the COIAO. During the exhibition, they will also conduct checks and enforce the COIAO if necessary."
This year, TELA will set up a counter in Exhibition Hall 2 (counter 2K36). Members of the public are welcome to make enquiries and obtain information on the COIAO. They can also participate in the interactive games to reinforce their understanding of the COIAO.
Ends/Sunday, July 20, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:01
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