China to Place Additional Ban on Photographs

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 202, 11 September 1937, Page 16

China to Place Additional Ban on Photographs

iSHANGHAL China's ' ' photophobia ' ' or official antipathy toward the taking of photographs seems due before long to exceed 'that of.Japan. Already the tourist is supposed to hand over his camera to the steward upon boarding any commejcial aeroplane, although such craft are. forbidden to fly over strategie areas, and he cannot carry a camera into any military zone. Now it is announced that the Nanking Ministry of Interior is compiling new and even stricter photograph restrietions, taking in travel not only by air, but by land and water as well. Nothing • specific has been made known as yet concerning these rules, but one dminous Tevelation has been broadcast. It appears that local military and police authorities, already Japonised enough for the considerable harassment .of the traveller, are to be granted exceptionally liberal powers with xeference to photography. At their option, according to advance word, they may ban or confiscate cameras virtually anywhere and without warning. Tho series of progressive restrietions started some years ago when the Government concluded that no one might take pietnres of beggars, superstitious or " ' old-f asMoned ' 3 practices (such as women 's bound-feeft), or anything else Which might cast diseredit upon China's modernity. On the other hand, newsreel and ofchei motion picture photographers are. encouraged by word from Nanking ithat the Government. may relax its ban on the export of undeveloped cinema film, provided it has been exposed under official auspices. This will open the way to use of colour film, which for technical reasons cannot be developed in China, and it will ease the lot of the news photographer wijth a '"hot scoop," which he wants to ship to his home office wi'thout the present vexatious delay for local development and viewing by Nanking censorship offieials,