A movie ticket in Hong Kong indicates the rating of the movie.

The Hong Kong motion picture rating system (Traditional: 香港電影分級制度, Simplified: 香港电影分级制度) is a legal system of movie screening and rating. Unlike its counterparts in the United States, an official government agency issues ratings for any movie that will be shown in Hong Kong movie theatres, instead of a private institution. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Traditional Chinese (Traditional Chinese: 正體字/繁體字, Simplified Chinese: 正体字/繁体字) refers to one of two standard sets of printed Chinese characters. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A motion picture rating system categorizes films with regard to suitability for children and/or adults in terms of issues such as sex, violence and profanity. ...

History

Since the beginning of the film industry in Hong Kong, there were no age restrictions for films, they were made under a strict guidelines which for instance actors had to be portrayed to not be allowed to get away with their crimes and sex scenes were not permitted. In 1986, with the release of A Better Tomorrow (it is a Level IIB), the general public became concerned about the influence the film would do for children, so therefore, as a result, the Hong Kong motion picture rating system was established under the Movie Screening Ordinance Cap.392 on 10 November 1988. The purpose behind the law is to provide parents of minors a chance to prevent their children from being exposed to inappropriate materials. The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan. ... A Better Tomorrow (英雄本色; pinyin: yīngxióng běnsè, Cantonese: ying1 hung4 bun2 sik1; literally True Colors of a Hero) is a 1986 Hong Kong action movie which had a profound influence on the Hong Kong movie-making industry, and later on an international scale. ... November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 51 days remaining. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The ratings are issued by the Hong Kong Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA), and initially provided three levels of ratings, which led to the slang term "three-tier ratings" (Chinese: 三級制) being used in popular usage.

In 1995, the ratings were amended, creating three levels of main ratings, and two subratings for one level. Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ...

Legal Requirements

According to the laws of Hong Kong, any movies that are intended to be shown in Hong Kong cinemas or released to the public via any videotape or disc formats must be screened by the TELA and have a rating issued by its director. Only educational movies and movie trailers do not receive ratings.

If a movie is rated as a Third Level film (Chinese: 三級片), its promotional materials must also be screened by TELA. In addition, any videotape or discs that will be sold must be sealed by plastic bagging before it can be sold.

Ratings System

Image	Text
	Level One: Suitable For All Ages All ages admitted. (Similar to UK U rating, USA and Australia G rating.)
	Level Two: Not Suitable For Children (pre-1995 legacy rating) The Government suggests parental guidance when watching the film. (Superseded by level II-A and II-B) (Similar to UK, USA and Australia PG rating.)
	Level Two-A: Not Suitable For Children The Government suggests parental guidance when watching the film. (Similar to UK 12 rating, USA PG-13 rating and Australia M rating.)
	Level Two-B: Not Suitable for Young Persons and Children The Government suggests parental guidance when watching the film. (This, again, was given to A Better Tommorow.) (Similar to UK 15, sometimes 18 rating, USA low-end R rating and Australia M-15+ sometimes R-18+rating.)
	Level Three: Persons Aged 18 and Above Only No persons 18 years of age or younger are permitted to rent, purchase, or watch this film in a movie theatre. (Similar to UK 18 rating, USA R rating and Australia R-18+ rating.)

Of the four levels, Levels I, IIA, and IIB are advisory ratings only, and carry no legal effect. Only Level III forbid a certain portion of the population from watching the film. Ticket sellers in movie theatres have a legal right to check the identity of a person who wishes to watch a Level III film to ensure legal compliance. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... A Better Tomorrow (英雄本色; pinyin: yīngxióng běnsè, Cantonese: ying1 hung4 bun2 sik1; literally True Colors of a Hero) is a 1986 Hong Kong action movie which had a profound influence on the Hong Kong movie-making industry, and later on an international scale. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...

Misconceptions, Fictional Ratings

Level III has often been misconstrued by many as a rating for pornographic productions. In reality, Level III films can be pornographic productions as well as movies that contain extremely violent contents. Oftentimes, popular actors who are minors in Hong Kong will participate in the filming of films that will eventually receive a Level III rating, and be legally forbidden to watch the production in public until they reach the age of 18.

The public has invented a fictional Level IV designation (Chinese: 四級電影, slang term: 四仔) to describe pornographic productions that are forbidden by the Hong Kong government to be shown or sold in Hong Kong. There is no official designation for motion pictures that are forbidden from sale or distribution in Hong Kong. In cases where the movie in question is child pornography, simply having a copy of such materials in possession is in violation of Hong Kong law.