OFWs in HK can be charged up to P6M for indecent social media pics

The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong has issued a public advisory for Filipinos living and working in Hong Kong.

The advisory warned that posting obscene or indecent images, articles, and videos on social media are strictly prohibited.  Those who violate the law will be penalized and charged with 1 million Hong Kong dollars (P6 million), and imprisoned for up to three years.

The law is called the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance or COIAO.  The ordinance defines obscene and indecent as “a thing … not suitable to be published to any person.”  It furthermore adds that “obscenity and indecency include violate, depravity and repulsiveness.”

A person is guilty of violating COIAO if he/she publishes, distributes, sells, hires, gives or lends the obscene article, image, or video to the public or a section of it.  A thing is deemed obscene or indecent by Hong Kong’s Office for Film, Newspaper, and Article Administration (OFNAA).