A government agency asked the city’s Obscene Articles Tribunal to classify the book after a public complaint over novel’s “explicit sexual details”
More than 2,100 people have signed an online petition opposing a decision in Hong Kong to classify a new novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami as indecent. The campaign was launched by local cultural and publishers’ groups after the Obscene Articles Tribunal – which rules on whether published items are indecent – rated the book on July 10.
1) Why the outcry?
Critics claim the decision has brought shame on Hong Kong’s culture of freedom and openness and have criticised the “flawed judging system”, in which adjudicators are not required to possess a certain level of literary knowledge.
They worry the rating for Murakami’s novel Killing Commendatore – which includes occasional descriptions of sex like most of his books – will set a precedent and “Hong Kong would become the most conservative Chinese area”.
2) What does each level of classification mean?
There is a three-tier classification under the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance – Class One rates something as neither obscene nor indecent; Class Two as indecent; and Class Three as obscene. Indecency is deemed to include violence, depravity and repulsiveness.
A Class Two publication, such as Killing Commendatore, is deemed unsuitable for those aged under 18, and must be wrapped with a warning on it when displayed on shelves. Violating these stipulations could lead to a fine of HK$400,000 (US$51,000) and 12 months’ imprisonment. To comply with the tribunal’s decision, exhibitors at the Hong Kong Book Fair removed all copies of the novel overnight last Thursday, and public libraries cancelled reservations made by readers aged below 18.
An article rated Class Three is forbidden from being published, and possessed or imported for the purpose of publication. Committing an offence could result in a fine of HK$1 million and imprisonment for three years.
