China favours Harry Potter

New Delhi (ANI): China has slapped a ban on horror films and other similar audio and visual products, except the Harry Potter series. An officer of the General Administration of Press and Publications (GAPP) said that apart from "Harry Potter", other major Hollywood films that cater to children and adults including "Shrek," "Toy Story", "c" will be similarly exempted from the ban.

The GAPP official revealed that the idea behind the ban was to prohibit the public exhibition of films "specifically plotted for the sole purpose of terror and severely harmful to minor's physical and mental health." Likewise, "Journey to the West", an ancient Chinese literary work made into a film, will not be banned, reports China Daily.

The official said Chinese fairy tales, stories of magic and even science fiction movies that may enlighten young Chinese viewers and inspire their imagination and creativity will be allowed. Some sales persons have questioned exactly what criteria earns a ban, because the circular issued by the GAPP last week lacks detailed and objective provisions.

The circular said a ban should relate to video and audio with elements of horror, violence and cruelty, which could be tremendously harmful for the psychological development of children. Wang Mingmei, a middle aged Beijinger, welcomed the ban, saying, "kids could easily be misled by the violence and cruelty in horror films, which is very bad for their mental health."

China began its onslaught on so-called "terrifying publications" in April 2006 after controversy over a Japanese comic story "Death Note", which, according to GAPP, depicted various scary ways of dying.