Difference between revisions of "Internet Censorship in Hong Kong"
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Revision as of 02:13, 18 November 2011
Internet censorship in Hong Kong pertains to the legality involved in the restriction of content on the internet in Hong Kong. Hong Kong, despite being a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China, maintains its own bill of rights which protects freedom of expression in such a way that limits governmental powers of censorship.
Contents
Background
Hong Kong Bill of Rights
Article 16 in Part 2 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights states[1]:
- Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
- Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.
This "right to freedom of expression" allows for more leniency with censorship on the internet in relation to other countries that do not stress such freedoms within their governmental charters.
Censored Material
It is illegal to post obscene materials into public forums such as the internet under Hong Kong law. For this reason, internet pornography distribution is penalized under law and can be censored by the Hong Kong authorities. This is an object of controversy though since it is in direct conflict with the Hong Kong Bill of Rights which explicitly emphasizes the "freedom of expression without interference." Internet pornography is considered by some as a form of expression that should be protected under this freedom.
Differences with PRC
The PRC's censorship campaign has been accused of being an effort to suppress critical opinions against the state. This campaign is not limited by PRC laws which, in effect, allows for more governmental intervention in terms of censorship on the internet. Censorship has many limitations placed on it within Hong Kong due to its Bill of Rights which accentuates the freedoms of its citizens to express themselves without interference and through whichever medium they wish, such as on the internet.
