Can films endanger the security of a nation? In the case of China, it seems they can. Hong Kong plugs the loophole with a censorship law that imposes heavy punishments on anyone showing past, present or future cinematic works that imperil the motherland. Films that were released in the past – and did not appear to threaten civilization at the time – have now become a particular problem…
Permits issued in the past do not have an expiry date, meaning that a movie can be screened again after its first screening…
What a scary thought! There are countless thousands of possibly dangerous films that the authorities recklessly approved over the decades for public viewing, though the government does not have a list yet. For example, have you noticed how The Sound of Music omits any mention at all of ‘Belt and Road opportunities’?
Hong Kong will now be able to impose a HK$1 million fine, or sentence offenders to up to three years in prison for the screening of movies that suddenly now imperil the country – perhaps, say, for airing any film from Taiwan that mentions ‘Taiwan’.
On the other hand, the Nicole Kidman smash hit Expats should be acceptable, thanks to the production’s tireless efforts to present authentic Han culture and its strong underlying message against collusion with foreign forces.
I was so consumed with Nicole Kidman-spotting this past week, I failed to see that Denise Ho is “under radar” of the National Security Police, who are keeping a “watchful eye” on the lesbian.
https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/cantopop-singer-denise-ho-placed-under-radar-by-national-security-department/
Also, when did playful and mostly grammatically flawed Dim Sum Daily become a member of the state security propaganda apparatus?
So ‘Star Wars’, a story of a rebel alliance overthrowing an evil empire will be banned?
The woollier the “laws” and rules the better for dictators to always find a reason for someone to lock up!
Believe – Obey – Fight (Benito Mussolini)
Work Hard – Love the Communist Party – Shut Up (Hong Kong 2021)
Snooping around Nicole-Gate, I found a link, through the Quartz article mentioned by Hemlock, to a 2016 book review of The Expatriates in the Los Angeles Times. Interesting that the three ladies of the story, according to the book, live in the “American Sector” of Hong Kong. Why are they shooting in Mongok??
Also…
Gives me an idea. Maybe we can divide Hong Kong into sectors: American, British, French and others, and Patriotic Chinese, and Non-Patriotic Chinese.
And to make sure that there will not be a rush into the Patriotic Chinese Sector, we just build a wall around it! 🙂
… as well any Disney movies featuring Winnie, or any movies not showing world maps that correctly depict the nine dash line and Tawain as part of the Motherland.
I’m sure that the HK cinemas are looking forward to showing only 100% Mainland-made movies in the future.
Can’t wait.
https://southpark.cc.com/episodes/4yl119/south-park-band-in-china-season-23-ep-2
You did not mention the Law Society election? After Denise is locked up there will be a patriotic witch hunt to winnow the 1,900 odd who voted for the gweilos.
@donkey – Probably because DS’ Malaysian proprietors wanted a slice of the info being channeled through Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po.
@Probably: It’s a cauldron of seditious ideas. As is the whole story of the CCP back in the 1920s and leading up to “liberation”.
Thank goodness for the Nation of Taiwan:
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4276221
Your undercover local “United Front” at work…
@Din Dan Che — I certainly don’t want to get into race politics here, but simply an observation based on a personal anecdote. A while ago I had a run in through social circles with a Malaysian Chinese, and after talking with the bloke for a few minutes, I noticed a strange pattern of ideology that I have since also found in other Malaysians.
1. A heavy focus on ethnocentrism and its powers, but in an odd way, not related to Malaysia as a country but more to the power of the Chinese diaspora and such being extra smart at entrepreneurship and quickwitted and resourceful enough to out fox regular Malaysians and even the Westernised Chinese who live in Places out of touch with the true Chinese spirit
He even produced this map on his phone that showed that all the great innovations in the 20th century were related in some way to Chinese belt and road trade routes. I couldn’t really see the connection but he was flush with pride.
2. A real admiration of the politics of Chinese big men. Deng, Xi, Mao, etc.
So, what is with that? Is this really a common attribute among Malaysians who do business with China and Malaysian Chinese? They seem really anti-Western from what I have seen and they seem to have this belief that the Chinese diaspora is this magical confab of genetic uber mensches that will one day rule all of the trade routes through Asia.
Is there any movie, save those produced in the mainland since 1949, that ISN’T a candidate for inclusion in the Index Prohibitorum?
Anybody spotted the new RTHK TV 31 staple “Glory of Youth” yet? Babyfaced actors visibly uncomfortable in crisp PLA uniforms, tears in their eyes, watching the DF 185 (animation) disappearing in the sky. Only the chipped-off paint on the truck is real. Endless dialogues, and the chief is wearing a Fitbit and Casio (or Chinese copies thereof). Daily from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. That’s the way guys! 50 episodes. Do not call Carrie from 8:30 to 9:30 pm please.
@ Donkey
Many of the Malaysian Chinese commenting on social media about Hong Kong, China, etc. matters seem to have fallen victim to “fake news” and Chinese propaganda:
https://pages.malaysiakini.com/hk-misinfo/en/
And I have a feeling that they were fed this kind of stuff in Chinese language schools in Malaysia.
@where’s my jet plane
Actually, I could see lots of films made in China after 1949 falling afoul of the new censorship laws — like this one I viewed in Hong Kong in 2012:-
https://webs-of-significance.blogspot.com/2012/08/though-i-am-gone-film-review.html
And also the one by Wang Bing that I viewed at the 2011 Hong Kong International Film Festival:-
https://webs-of-significance.blogspot.com/2011/03/two-more-movies-viewed-at-2011-hkiff.html
@donkey – could it be some sort of psychological compensation for their second-class status in Malaysia, where the system is rigged to benefit the Malay majority? Just guessing. The only Malaysian Chinese I know personally doesn’t fit your profile.
Regarding the Malaysian Chinese.
I’ve met quite a few of them in my time, and almost without exception, I’ve found the “successful, entrepreneurial” urban examples to be complete and utter tossers.
By contrast, the aunties and uncles who dwell in villages in deepest Perak and other such ulu locales have always struck me as the salt of the earth.
There is, however, one thing that most of these people have in common, namely the conviction that they are racially, morally and cerebrally superior to the Malays (and certainly to the Indians) amongst whom they live.
Rather an unattractive attitude to take through life, really.
Re: Malaysians
In the days long gone when I bothered to read the comments in the SCMP I noticed that a significant number of Pro-BJ/anti-West/wumao contributors were Malaysian, mostly Chinese.
@donkey – whenever I’ve been there on business, Chinese-Malaysians are eager (when out of earshot) to emphasise the incompetence and cronyism in government. Must admit, they have my sympathy there. On the other end of this holier-than-thou scale is the international gangsterism spawned within some communities that has spread into the west – people trafficking, drugs etc. You get that everywhere, but instances I’ve been told of astound me.
As for championing the CCP cause… didn’t help much during the Malay Emergency when Brit special forces set the headhunters on insurgents. When I read the pro-CCP sniping from some, I tend to recall those pics I’ve seen and think somewhat charitably: can’t blame them for losing their heads all these years later.
@Low Profile – Yup.
Nicole Kidman needs to follow the Tom Cruise school of geographical accuracy by walking out of her house in Central into a street in downtown TST
I guess “The World of Suzie Wong” will join the list of banned movies. After all, the title character colludes with a number of American defence personnel and receives money from them. Very suspicious! Then there is “The Man with the Golden Gun” which depicts a British intelligence agent on assignment in Hong Kong – though as he doesn’t even know which side of the harbour he’s on, I doubt he poses much risk to China’s security.
Re: Some Malaysian Chinese, mainland students outside of China (esp in Oz), members of “United Front” cells, etc: The biggest advocates of the CCP and systems like it are the ones fortunate enough to be living outside it.
9 times out of 10, rich businessmen find some ideology to justify why they are better than everyone else and therefore 100% deserving of being rich businessmen. Whether it be prosperity gospel Christianity, tech bro libertarianism or Han supremacist Belt-and-Road boosterism, the motivation is the same.
@ Toph: hear, hear.
In that vein: Chinese Netizen’s “The biggest advocates of the CCP and systems like it are the ones fortunate enough to be living outside it” apply to far more than just (some) Malaysian Chinese*!
*I find that a pretty accurate way to gauge their politics is to hear how they identify themselves: as Malaysian Chinese, Chinese Malaysian, Chinese or (plain) Malaysian. Similar to whether one identifies as a Hong Konger (or Hongkonger), Hong Kong Chinese, Chinese Hong Konger or (plain) Chinese.
I think that if everyone, everywhere, who professes love, admiration and loyalty to the CCP were to fuck off and live on the Mainland, we’d all be a lot happier.
Big Al FTW
Now we know why the Chief Secretary will only concern himself with National Insecurity matters. He has the whole back catalogue of movies to watch.