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Following is the transcript (English portion) of the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph W P Wong, speaking to the media after meeting with the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild this (September 1) afternoon:
Reporter: Can you tell us how was the meeting?
SCIT: We had a meeting with the Guild. We exchanged views on a particular incident which of course has now entered legal process. We will continue to take legal action against all infringements against the law. In so far as the relevant legislation which is the Control of Indecent and Obscene Articles Ordinance is concerned, we have undertaken to review the particular provision in the Ordinance, in particular, the penalty provision in the Ordinance to consider whether or not there is a case to amend the existing Ordinance, so as to either increase the penalty provisions or to enhance the deterrent effect of the Ordinance so that we will stop or prevent future occurrences of all these publications from publishing indecent and obscene articles.
We have undertaken to put forward concrete proposals, say in the next few months, so that the public will have a chance to comment on our proposals. There is no doubt it may be controversial. We will also put forward the proposals to the Legislative Council. We welcome continuing dialogue with all relevant organisations, including the Performing Artistes Guild and all other associations. I believe it is incumbent on the government to continue the interests and to continue to take all actions possible to protect the privacy of all individuals and to protect interests of all our teenagers. So we will continue to take actions in this respect.
Reporter: Many have expressed concern that it may tamper with the freedom of expression if the regulation is amended. What do you think about that? How do you strike a balance about that?
SCIT: I think it is very important to make it absolutely clear that everyone of us, the government, the members of the public and the media attach tremendous importance to preserving the freedom of speech and the freedom of press in Hong Kong. There is absolutely no question that the government will do anything to interfere with the freedom of the press. What we are talking about here is the question of very serious infringement against privacy. I cannot really bring myself to understand why taking a picture of a certain lady changing clothes is in conflict with the very valued principles of the freedom of speech. Let me assure you I am not dealing with anything which will affect in the slightest way the freedom of speech which we enjoy and we value in Hong Kong. What we want to do is to ensure that every individual in Hong Kong will have their privacy respected, that our publications will also respect the privacy of individuals and not to take any action such as covert surveillance in order to take the most secret and the most private pictures of individuals and have them printed in the publications for everyone to see.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Friday, September 1, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:52
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