Hong Kong Lifts Mask Mandate, Ban on Wearing Facial Coverings at Rallies Remains

On Feb. 28, 2023, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the withdrawal of the "mask order" effective on March 1, that had been in place for more than two years, to attract more tourists and promote more economic activities to Hong Kong. This picture shows at noon on Mar. 1, when office workers in Central went out for lunch, many of them had already removed their masks. (Adrian Yu/The Epoch Times)

The “mask order” in Hong Kong that has been in place for over two years is now revoked on Mar. 1.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the decision on Feb. 28, saying that all data showed that the pandemic in Hong Kong was under control and there was no sign of a significant rebound. It is, therefore, the right time to revoke the “mask order” now.

“From now on, this year and next year, we can strive for economic development in all areas, and Hong Kong will develop at full speed in this regard,” Lee said.

Almost everywhere in the world, the “mask order” or the recommendation to wear a mask has been revoked. Since the end of last year, with the sudden shift of China’s anti-pandemic measures, local government officials and experts have made it their goal to lift the “mask order.”

However, Hong Kong has repeatedly extended the “mask order,” making a mockery of itself that the “normalized” Hong Kong has finally become a rare place in the world that still compeled the public to wear masks.

On Feb. 28, 2023, HK Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the withdrawal of the "mask order" that had been in place for more than two years and would come into effect the next day to attract more tourists and bring more economic activities to Hong Kong. This picture shows on the morning of Mar. 1, many people who went to work and school still wore masks. Some said they would continue to wear them until they used up all their stock. (Adrian Yu/The Epoch Times)

On the morning of Mar. 1, along the busy and crowded streets of Hong Kong, most people going to work and schools were still wearing masks. Some said that due to the sudden cancelation of the mask order, they would use up their stock before stopping wearing it.

On Feb. 28, although the citizens interviewed welcomed the new measures, some shops began to sell masks at half price, and shop assistants said they were caught off guard.

Ms. Lam, an employee of a mask shop in Mong Kok, thinks that business will be affected. “It would be better if a buffer period is in place.” She said frontline hospital staff would still wear masks, and some tourists would still buy them.

Ms. Lam, a sales assistant in a mask shop in Mong Kok, was interviewed yesterday. She said the new measures caught her off guard. (Screenshot from The Epoch Times video)

One man felt delighted that the mask was no longer mandatory. A lady said that she still must wear it during work.

Two citizens were interviewed in Mong Kok on Feb. 28 and said they would not wear masks from March 1. (Screenshot from The Epoch Times video)

Mask Still Needed Entering Medical Facilities

Lo Chung-mau, Secretary for Health, added that the government would use administrative measures to require citizens to wear masks when entering medical facilities. And the government will also strongly recommend that both the staff and visitors of nursing homes wear masks when entering the relevant places.

He also said that the complete revocation of the “mask order” also means that all social distancing measures have officially ended, and Hong Kong has fully returned to normal.

Suspicion Revocation of Mask Order as too Slow and Missed the Best Opportunity

Since the Macau government announced the withdrawal of the “mask order” on Feb. 27, some media outlets pointed out that Hong Kong has become the last “isolated island in pandemic prevention” and is also one of the very few places in the world where people are still required by law to wear masks while staying outdoors.

When asked by a reporter why he chose Mar. 1 to relax the measures in such a hurry, “Is it entirely just following other people’s similar decision elsewhere before you?” Lee said he had actively considered canceling the “mask order” almost two months ago.

As for whether Hong Kong’s lifting of the “mask order” was too slow and missed the best opportunity to win business and tourists, Lee did not answer directly. He only said that after the “mask order” was lifted, different significant events and international activities would return to Hong Kong.

On Mar. 1, 2023, the first day for Hong Kong to lift the "mask order," foreign tourists enjoyed their mask-free trip at Hong Kong Disneyland. (Benson Lau/The Epoch Times)

On Mar. 1, 2023, the first day the "mask order" was lifted in Hong Kong, some parents took their children to Hong Kong Disneyland for a day out. (Benson Lau/The Epoch Times)

‘Mask Order’ a Tool by the Government to Suppress Freedom of Assembly in Recent Years

On Jun. 28, 2021, the police issued a notice of objection (against an application for the “7.1” rally) on the grounds of pandemic prevention. It was the first time since the handover of sovereignty in 1997 that there was no Jul. 1 rally in Hong Kong. However, many citizens still tried to express their opinions in their ways.

In addition to arresting at least 19 people in multiple districts suspected of distributing seditious publications, disorderly conduct in public places, and obstructing police officers from carrying out their duties, the police also issued penalty tickets to at least another 19 people on the same day for violating the “social gathering ban,” and the “mask order.” (officially The Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition) on Gathering Regulation (Cap. 599G))

Even though the “social gathering ban” was revoked, the police still used the “mask order” to target social activists.

On Feb. 7 last year, the day the trial of the pro-democracy primary election case began, three members of the League of Social Democrats petitioned outside the court, demanding the release of political prisoners. Still, the police refused their petition at the main entrance. Later, one member, Dickson Chau, lowered his mask for a few seconds to speak to reporters and was accused by the police of “not wearing a mask” and violating the “mask order” and took him into a nearby police van. Chau was later released but was charged with violating the “mask order” and fined.

According to the police, more than 21,000 citations have been issued, and 41 prosecutions have been made since the “mask order” was enacted until Feb. 22 this year. However, this figure does not consider the statistics of other authorized public officials.

Revocation of ‘Mask Order’ Means Controversy over Wearing Masks May Return

Regarding the “Ban on Wearing Facial Coverings at Rallies” enacted by the government invoking the “Emergency Regulation” in 2019, Lee Ka-chiu said on Feb. 28 that the “mask order” is to deal with public health issues. As for the “Ban on Wearing Facial Coverings at Rallies,” the authorities will review it in due course, and nothing will be done at this stage.

However, once the “mask order” is revoked, the controversy over wearing masks during the anti-extradition movement in 2019 may return.

Some netizens were concerned, “Want to know if wearing it tomorrow will violate the (prohibition) mask law.”

On Oct. 4, 2019, the then Chief Executive, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, bypassed the Legislative Council by citing the “Emergency Regulation” and enacted the “Ban on Wearing Facial Coverings at Rallies Regulations,” which came into effect on Oct. 5 of the same year. The newly passed ordinance bans using objects to cover the face during legal or illegal gatherings and provides a legal basis for police officers to cover their faces instead.

The general public widely criticizes the regulation as a way to suppress civil protest activities. As of June 2022, 683 people had been arrested for suspected violations of the rules, of which 74 were prosecuted, and 26 were convicted.