Hong Kong to scour old films for subversive themes under new censorship law

Movies deemed a security threat can bring penalties of up to three years' jail under stricter law that also covers previously approved titles

Hong Kong will scrutinise past films for national security breaches under a tough new censorship law in the latest blow to the city's political and artistic freedoms.

Authorities announced in June that the financial hub's censorship board would check any future films for content that breached the security law. But on Tuesday they unveiled a new, hardened censorship law that would also cover any titles that had previously been given a green light.