Cc-hk mailing list

["Oiwan Lam" <oiwan.lam AT gmail.com>]

dear friends,

i am writing to update you on the consultation of obscene and indecency censorship in hk, and you can help by writing personal / org response to the government by Jan of 31 2009 (http://www.coiao.gov.hk/b5/welcome.htm) and by register for speaking in the Legco IT panel on wed 2:30pm next week. (please write to charlesmok by friday for this).

in the last consultation meeting in nov, human right org, i.t orgs, media group, youth org (a total of more than 20) all spoke against compulsory / law enforced internet censorship, and they also demand reform on the obscene article tribunal which is now a black box in their trial manipulated by the admin body and a small group of "adjudicators". however, the truelight 明光社 (which has already spoken in last meeting, along with other pro-china social group), use another org title (sex culture association) demanding the legco to open another special meeting on 21 of Jan afternoon to listen to their opinion, plus other parent groups (recently truelight kept posting mobilization messages to parent groups and forums, twisting the oppositional voices to create a moral crisis among the groups). and all orgs who had already spoken in nov could not attend the session. 

this is a very nasty strategy, as the mainstream media pay much attention to legco session, and 21 of Jan is very close to the ending of consultation period. the media effect on the twisted moral crisis will affect the public opinion greatly. in order to have a more balanced voice. we need to mobilize those org who haven't been spoken in the legco to speak out. that's why i am asking your help in this. please try to attend the legco next wed if you have org / company / website. 

this is a golden opportunity for us to reform the censorship system. as the chief judge in the final court of appeal has already spoken that the existing system is in great flaw, we need to push it to the right direction for protecting the public space in the internet, and human rights and free speech value in the classification. 

please adapt this message and forward it to your friends and network that concern about censorship issue.

thanks a lot, 

cheers, oiwan

-- 
I am writing for:

www.interlocals.net
www.inmediahk.net (chinese)
www.globalvoicesonline.org