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The Dark Knight does not return: Hong Kong organisers dismiss suggestion Batman film replaced with Iron Man flick on national security grounds

  • Event organisers clarify previous decision, say Batman film was pulled because movie’s violent scenes were unsuitable for outdoor screening
  • Film experts say government suggestion to pull film was right move, following speculation it was switched over national security concerns

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An outdoor screening of The Dark Knight was cancelled because it featured violent scenes. Photo: Warner Bros Pictures

An outdoor screening of a popular Batman film in Hong Kong was cancelled because it contained violent scenes, the event’s organisers have said, quashing speculation about any link to national security concerns.

A government spokesman also called a foreign media report which suggested authorities had banned the screening of The Dark Knight at the event in Central Harbourfront as “groundless”, explaining organisers had made the decision to replace the movie after receiving advice from the city’s film regulatory body.

The controversy erupted when it emerged that the 2008 movie, which featured scenes in Hong Kong and was originally scheduled to show at The Grounds on October 27, had been cancelled and replaced with another Hollywood film Iron Man.

The event’s organisers announced the decision on Wednesday via social media, but originally did not disclose the reason behind the move, prompting speculation that the decision was due to the city’s film censorship law. The legislation was amended last year to empower the chief secretary to ban the showing of previously approved movie productions for national security reasons.

The film censorship legislation was amended after Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong two years ago, which outlaws acts of subversion, secession, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces.

But The Grounds on Friday clarified the decision to replace the film was because the Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration (OFNAA) had suggested violent scenes featured in The Dark Knight would make it unsuitable for outdoor screenings.

“The Grounds decided to make a change of movie based on OFNAA’s recommendation. … This discussion is not unusual. It is a normal part of the licensing process,” a company spokeswoman said.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung. Photo: Handout
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung. Photo: Handout
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