"Control
of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance"
Related Publicity and Public Education Activities
Subsidizing Scheme 2008 - 09
1.
Background
The Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) is one of the enforcing agencies of the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance (COIAO). Articles under the regulation of the COIAO include newspapers, magazines, comic books, video tapes, video compact discs, laser discs, tapes, electronically transmitted pictures and images. Over the years, TELA has made great strides in combating the publication of obscene and indecent articles. However, law enforcement alone is insufficient to safeguard youngsters' healthy development. It is necessary to put more effort to enhance their analytical ability and strengthen their immunity against such materials. To attain the goal, youngsters should have adequate sex knowledge, proper sex concept and have sufficient understanding of the obligations of the media and the COIAO. Teachers, parents and social workers are also required to have good knowledge of all these issues in order to provide proper guidance and counseling to youngsters. In view of this, TELA has joined hands regularly with non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) to promote sex education, media education, the proper use of the Internet, and to elucidate the provisions of the COIAO.
2.
Objectives
-
To promote community and youngsters' awareness of
the COIAO;
- To
alert members of the public, parents, teachers and
social workers to the negative impact objectionable
materials may have on the youngsters; and
- To
help youngsters to develop independent thinking, better
analytical ability, positive values and outlook on
life with a view to helping them build up a stronger
resistance to the possible harm from the objectionable
materials.
3.
Content of the projects
A project subsidized under the scheme must be able to
convey to the community (in particular children, youngsters
and parents) the content and messages of the COIAO.
The activities concerned can be of any format but the
main content of the project has to be related to the
ordinance. The subsidized activities must be non-profit-making
and local-based. The activities should not be held for
political, religious or commercial/Organisation business
promotion.
4.
Eligibility
Only schools, registered charitable institutions, non-profit-making
Organisations, or all their branches or district offices
formed under these Organisations may apply for subsidy.
5.
How to apply
Interested Organisations should submit the completed
application form, together with a project proposal,
a copy of the registration certificate of the Organisation
and a supporting document for tax exemption under Section
88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance, or copies of other
relevant supporting documents, to the Project Officer,
Miss Leung, Newspapers Registration Section of the Television
and Entertainment Licensing Authority at 9/F Revenue
Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong on or before
the specified deadline of application.
6. Vetting
criteria
All applications will be vetted by the Subsidizing Scheme
Vetting Committee (the Committee), which comprises representatives
from a number of government departments and NGOs. The
Committee will look into the content, scale, format
and budget of the project proposed by the applicant.
Priority will be given to activities organised and planned
by youngsters, or specifically targeted at families
with a view to encouraging the participation of parents
and youngsters. The vetting criteria include:
-
The
feasibility of the project, and whether the proposed
activities meet the objectives of the scheme and the
demands of the society.
- The
scale, format and originality of the proposal, as
well as the appropriateness and substantiality of
its content (e.g. if an introduction to the COIAO
will be included to enhance the effect of education).
- Whether
the expenditure is well justified and the cost-effectiveness
of the project.
- The
general effectiveness of the project, including the
target group of the activity and the number of people
to be benefited from it.
- The
extensibility of the project.
- The
applicant’s achievements and experience in organising
similar activities in the past.
7.
Amount of subsidy
Ceiling of funding for each project is set at HK$ 150,000.
The total amount of funding for each and every institution,
including all its branches or district offices is also
set at a ceiling of HK$ 150,000. If the project spans
over several activities, the applicant may choose to
apply for subsidy for just one or more specified activities.
However, completed or on-going activities conducted
before the approval of this project will not be subsidized.
8.
Points to note
- All applications should be submitted on
or before the deadline. If sent by mail,
the postmark will be deemed as the application date.
Late application will not be accepted.
- TELA has absolute discretion over the acceptance
or rejection of an application and the amount of subsidy.
9.
Briefing session
Two briefing sessions for the Scheme were held in
the morning of 4 December 2007 and
on 15 January 2008 at Conference Room,
9/F, TELA, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wanchai.
Organisations intending to participate in the Scheme
are advised to attend. Pre-registration by fax was required.
(To download the Attendance Reply Slip: 4
December 2007 / 15
January 2008)
10.
Deadline for application
20 February 2008 (postmark deadline)
11.
Date of announcement
Organisations which have submitted an application will
receive an acknowledgement from TELA and be given a
written reply about the result in April or May 2008.
12.
Details of Approved Projects for 2008-09
13.
Telephone enquiry and reservation for attending the briefing session
2594
5859 Miss Leung |
