Hong Kong police have arrested a 29-year-old Webmaster suspected of operating a pornographic Web site

Hong Kong police have arrested a 29-year-old Webmaster suspected of operating a pornographic Web site, a crime that could land the man in prison for three years. Hong Kong police were alerted to the Web site by the special administrative region's (SAR's) Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority. A Hong Kong law, the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance (COIAO), prohibits publication of obscene articles to all. It restricts publication of indecent articles to those over the age of 18. The law is monitored jointly by the police, the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority, and the Customs and Excise Department. Police traced the Webmaster from the site, and last Thursday raided an apartment in Tin Shui Wai. Officers allege the man used the premises to upload "obscene pictures and videos onto the Web site, and allowed registered members to upload and download the obscene data from it." Desktop computers, a laptop computer and 176 video compact discs were seized when the man was arrested. He has been released on bail and is due to report back this week, a police statement said. If found guilty, the man could face up to three years in prison and a fine of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($128,207). In June, a 29-year-old Hong Kong man was imprisoned for 18 months after being found guilty of selling child pornography over the Internet.