Hong Kong Passes Film Censorship Law, Curbing Free Speech Again
- Bill carries maximum HK$1 million fine and up to 3 years jail
- New rules impact private screenings, big tech companies
Police officers stand guard in front of the skyline in Hong Kong, China.
Photographer: Paul Yeung/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Hong Kong has banned films that run contrary to the interests of a Beijing-drafted national security law, the latest crackdown on freedom of expression in the Asian financial hub.
The city’s opposition-free legislature amended the Film Censorship Bill on Wednesday, turning movie censors into gatekeepers of the security law with penalties as high as HK$1,000,000 ($130,000) and three years in prison for those who screen non-approved content.