Hong Kong motion picture rating system

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Image:IFC ticket.jpg

A movie ticket in Hong Kong indicates the rating of the movie.

The Hong Kong motion picture rating system (traditional Chinese: 香港電影分級制度; simplified Chinese: 香港电影分级制度) is a legal system of movie screening and rating. Unlike its counterparts in the United States, an official government agency issues ratings for any movie that will be shown in Hong Kong movie theatres, instead of a private institution.

1 History
2 Legal Requirements
3 Ratings System
4 Misconceptions, Fictional Ratings
5 External links

[edit] History

At the beginning of the film industry in Hong Kong, there were no age restrictions for films, they were made under a strict guidelines which for instance actors had to be portrayed to not be allowed to get away with their crimes and sex scenes were not permitted. In 1986, with the release of A Better Tomorrow (rated IIB'), the general public became concerned about the influence the film would do for children, so therefore, as a result, the Hong Kong motion picture rating system was established under the Movie Screening Ordinance Cap.392 on 10 November, 1988. The purpose behind the law is to provide parents of minors a chance to prevent their children from being exposed to inappropriate materials.

The ratings are issued by the Hong Kong Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA), and initially provided three levels of ratings, which led to the slang term "three-tier ratings" (Chinese: 三級制) being used in popular usage.

In 1995, the ratings were amended, creating three levels of main ratings, and two subratings for one level.

[edit] Legal Requirements

According to the laws of Hong Kong, any movies that are intended to be shown in Hong Kong cinemas or released to the public via any videotape or disc formats must be screened by the TELA and have a rating issued by its director. Only educational movies and movie trailers do not receive ratings.

If a movie is rated as a Third Level film (Chinese: 三級片), its promotional materials must also be screened by TELA. In addition, any videotape or discs that will be sold must be sealed by plastic bagging before it can be sold.

[edit] Ratings System

Image	Text
Image:Hong Kong film rating cat1.svg	Level One: Suitable For All Ages All ages admitted. (Similar to UK U rating, USA and Australia G rating.)
Image:Hong Kong film rating cat2.svg	Level Two: Not Suitable For Children (pre-1995 legacy rating) The Government suggests parental guidance when watching the film. This rating is now superseded by levels Image:Hong Kong film rating cat2a.svg and Image:Hong Kong film rating cat2b.svg (Similar to UK, USA and Australia PG rating.)
Image:Hong Kong film rating cat2a.svg	Level Two-A: Not Suitable For Children The Government suggests parental guidance when watching the film. (Similar to UK 12 rating, USA low-end PG-13 rating and Australia M rating.)
Image:Hong Kong film rating cat2b.svg	Level Two-B: Not Suitable for Young Persons and Children The Government suggests parental guidance when watching the film. (This, again, was given to A Better Tommorow.) (Similar to UK 15, sometimes 18 rating, USA low-end R rating and high-end PG-13 rating as well as Australia MA15+ rating.)
Image:Hong Kong film rating cat3.svg	Level Three: Persons Aged 18 and Above Only No persons 18 years of age or younger are permitted to rent, purchase, or watch this film in a movie theatre. (Similar to UK 18 rating, USA NC-17 rating and Australia R-18+ rating.)

Of the four levels, Levels I, IIA, and IIB are advisory ratings only, and carry no legal effect. Only Level III forbid a certain portion of the population from watching the film. Ticket sellers in movie theatres have a legal right to check the identity of a person who wishes to watch a Level III film to ensure legal compliance.

[edit] Misconceptions, Fictional Ratings

Level III has often been misconstrued by many as a rating for pornographic productions. In reality, Level III films can be sex films as well as movies that contain extremely violent contents. However, this does not include pornography, which is banned in Hong Kong. Often, popular actors who are minors in Hong Kong will participate in the filming of films that will eventually receive a Level III rating, and be legally forbidden to watch the production in public until they reach the age of 18.

The public has invented a fictional Level IV designation (Chinese: 四級電影, slang term: 四仔) to describe pornographic productions that are forbidden by the Hong Kong government to be shown or sold in Hong Kong. There is no official designation for motion pictures that are forbidden from sale or distribution in Hong Kong. In cases where the movie in question is child pornography, simply having a copy of such materials in possession is in violation of Hong Kong law.