By Yi Fan, Vision Times
As Hong Kong’s censorship continues to tighten under the shadow of the National Security Law, authorities have now quietly barred at least 13 films from screening, but refuse to disclose which works were suppressed, who made them, or what content triggered the ban. Officials insist that revealing such information would violate privacy laws and that “no overriding public interest” requires disclosure.
According to a Central News Agency summary of a report in the “Ming Pao Daily News,” government departments rejected multiple requests for the list of banned films, as well as the names of the directors affected. The Film Newspaper Office turned down the inquiries twice, prompting “Ming Pao” to seek a review from the Office of the Communications Authority. That appeal was also dismissed.
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In its reply, the office argued that decisions made by film censors regarding whether a film may “be prejudicial to national security” constitute internal government information related to safeguarding the state — and therefore would not be released.
A new era of censorship
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Official figures show a dramatic shift since the imposition of the National Security Law in mid-2020. Hong Kong’s Film Censorship Authority has reviewed more than 39,000 films in recent years. While the overall proportion of banned content remains low, the difference from the previous era is stark: in the five years before the law was amended, not a single film was barred from screening.
That “zero-ban” period now feels distant. The government refuses to publish a list of prohibited titles or offer detailed explanations for its decisions, fueling growing concern about opaque standards and political red lines.
Since the National Security Law took effect, arts groups and cultural commentators have repeatedly warned that the government’s expanded censorship powers threaten the future of local creative industries. “Hong Kong cinema was once known for its diversity, authenticity, and boldness,” one industry insider said. “Today, the creative space is shrinking — and this is an invisible blow to the entire cultural sector.”
Forced to make ‘political cuts’
In an October report, Ming Pao revealed that since the law came into force:
- 50 films were required to make changes “due to national security considerations,” and
- 13 films were denied screening approval altogether.
Under the amended Film Censorship Ordinance, examiners must now explicitly consider whether releasing a film “would be prejudicial to national security.” That mandate, combined with sweeping enforcement powers, has ushered in a profound shift in Hong Kong’s cultural and artistic climate — one in which previously uncontroversial works can suddenly be deemed politically dangerous.
As officials insist on secrecy surrounding their decisions, critics warn that the chilling effect will only deepen. Without transparency, they argue, filmmakers cannot know where the boundaries lie — and may choose simply not to approach them at all.
