******************************
The Government welcomes the decision of the Obscene Articles Tribunal (OAT) today (November 1) confirming an article published in the Easyfinder magazine on August 23, 2006, as Class II (i.e. indecent) under the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance (Chapter 390).
The article and the related photos featured a popular singer while she was changing clothes. The Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) has received 2,875 public complaints against the article.
"TELA will take appropriate prosecution action under section 24 of the ordinance. Easyfinder magazine, upon conviction, faces a maximum penalty of an $800,000 and imprisonment for 12 months for publishing an indecent article," a spokesman for TELA said.
The OAT classified the article as Class II on an interim basis on August 25. At the request of the publisher of the article, a full hearing was held on September 19, and the result of the full hearing was announced today.
Ends/Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:47
NNNN
