China passes restrictive new film law

Beijing

CHINA passed a restrictive and long-discussed film law on Monday banning content deemed harmful to the "dignity, honour and interests" of the People's Republic and encouraging the promotion of "socialist core values".

Booming box-office receipts have drawn Hollywood studios and a growing Chinese filmmaking industry into fierce competition for the Asian giant's movie market, which PricewaterhouseCoopers projects will rise from US$4.3 billion in 2014 to US$8.9 billion in 2019 - outstripping the US.