May 26, 2007 6:28
We all know the chaos created by Hong Kong's OAT classification of CUSP as indecent material.I have a suggestion to remediate the situation and preventing similar incident from happening in the future.
My suggestion to start a civil organization known as HK volunteer classification organization. The best is it is partially funded by HKSARG with no string attached, and partially supported by fundraising. The operation of whole organs. is completely autonomous, it is only accountable to the public. Its process are transparent, open and as fair as possible.We could take the model from how Linux movement is organized. It would has formal procedure(like public hearing), appeal procedure(online and offline); and takes its member from its pool of member it registered. The member will register with their religion background. The classifying process is distribute as evenly as possible, that is to prevent any groups from dominating the classification procedural.
If an appeal went through, the process would either restarted or a summary judgement is gave. A record of that judge made the original judgement would be updated. And any interested public could browse through the judgement, reasoning and argument for each classification. Each job would be distributed to an amount of member twice of what is needed, and we need consensus of the result(>100). A deadline of a month(for each procedure) is given, and those who fail to finish the job will also be notice in their record.
Altogether it take 3 months for an object to be reviewed.
Previously, what we have is a lack of interest from the public. And the system of OAT was such that it could be easily dominated by small group of radical moralist, and its working hours are inconsiderate of the liveihood of general public. Now we have a group of interested public and Internet provide easy access for all of Netizen to witness and participate the whole classification process.
Since it is a civil organization, no criminal penalty would be awarded by this organization.(No jail term just base on the publishing, however, jail term could be seeked by using other criminal code.) HKSARG, however, could seek damage on behalf of citizens disguest by the indecent/obscenest material(The whole HK). Since the damage is awarded per citizen/reader, then it would have stronger deterrent effect than existing OAT system.
Just added:
HKSARG want to abolish RTHK,
and establish a new Public Boardcasting Cooperation
because RTHK can't be transformed into later.
Similarly:
HK citizen believe that the censorship function of
TELA/OAT/BA need to abolish,
and establish a new Public Censorship Organization.
because TELA/OAT/BA can't be transformed into later.