OFNAA seizes suspected indecent articles at Hong Kong Book Fair 2016
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A spokesman for the OFNAA said today (July 27), "The OFNAA is investigating the suspected contravention of the COIAO. We will submit the seized articles to the Obscene Articles Tribunal (OAT) for classification, and will take appropriate follow-up actions in accordance with the classification decided by the OAT.
"Following established practice, the OFNAA issued letters to exhibitors through the organiser of the Book Fair two months in advance to alert them to the major provisions of the COIAO and to remind them to ensure that their publications are in compliance with the COIAO," he said.
"Aside from the self-initiated inspection, the OFNAA has so far received three public complaints against a photo album for sale at the Book Fair. The OFNAA notes that the authors/publishers of nine photo albums (including the one under complaint) had submitted the publications to the OAT for classification prior to their exhibition at the Book Fair. As the photo album under complaint has been classified by the OAT as a Class I (neither indecent nor obscene) article, there is no need for the OFNAA to take any further action.
"The OFNAA has also received one public complaint against a comic book for sale at the Book Fair. The OFNAA has submitted the comic book concerned to the OAT for classification, and will take appropriate follow-up action in accordance with the classification decided by the OAT.
"Separately, regarding the public complaints received earlier by the OFNAA against the publication of two books, namely 'Deep Web File' and 'Deep Web 2.0 File', after investigation and seeking legal advice, the OFNAA has initiated prosecution actions against the publisher for breach of section 24 of the COIAO in respect of its failure to comply with the requirements on publishing indecent articles," said the spokesman.
Under the COIAO, the maximum penalty for the publication of an obscene article is a fine of $1,000,000 and imprisonment for three years. The maximum penalty for the publication of an indecent article in breach of the COIAO is a fine of $400,000 and imprisonment for 12 months on a first conviction, and a fine of $800,000 and imprisonment for 12 months on a second or subsequent conviction.
"The OFNAA will continue to take appropriate and proportionate enforcement actions to enforce the COIAO," the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:18
Issued at HKT 18:18
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