Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Officials: Anti-mask law vital, in line with due process

Officials: Anti-mask law vital, in line with due process

Government officials said enacting the anti-mask law was a hard decision for the government, but a must to the city.

Top officials from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Sunday stressed the need to enact the anti-mask law and said it is in compliance with due process.

Enacting the anti-mask law was a hard decision for the government, but a must to the city, Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung Kin-chung wrote in his online blog.

He said the anti-mask law is a timely measure to address the problems facing the Asian business hub.

For four months, Hong Kong has been caught in the throes of violent protests. Masked radicals attacked police officers and people who disagreed with them. They set streets ablaze, threw gasoline bombs, sabotaged banks, shops, and restaurants, paralyzed traffic and vandalized numerous subway stations.

The anti-mask law was aimed at deterring reckless acts of violence committed by radicals hiding their identities behind face masks. The law can assist the police in criminal investigations and the search for evidence to enable prosecutions, said Cheung.

The law, which took effect on Oct 5, bans people from wearing masks at any public gathering. Violators of the law will be liable to a maximum prison term of one year and a fine of up to HK$25,000.

The chief secretary refuted comments that the government had bypassed the legislative council to enact the law.

As a piece of subsidiary legislation, the anti-mask law, or the Prohibition on Face Covering Regulation, was made under the emergency ordinance and properly gazetted. It will be tabled at the Legislative Council when it reconvenes on Oct 16 for vetting.

In his own blog, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po reiterated that there will be no foreign currency control in Hong Kong in addressing concern that the government is empowered to do so after invoking the Emergency Regulations Ordinance. 

He emphasized that the free flow of capital and the full convertibility of the Hong Kong dollar are guaranteed by the Basic Law.

The only objective of the government in introducing the anti-mask law was to maintain public safety and social order so as to protect the safety of the public, Chan wrote.

The MTR, meanwhile, announced about half of the 94 station of the railway network were reopened Sunday after a rare day of full service suspension the previous day, except for the Airport Express.

The remaining stations remained closed Sunday too. Services on the Disneyland Resort Line and Ma On Shan Line also remained suspended.

Train services will close early at 9pm to allow more time for repair, the MTR said in a notice.

At least seven shopping malls remained closed on Sunday. They are: World Trade Centre at Causeway Bay, Amoy Plaza and Telford Plaza at Kowloon Bay station, Maritime Square at Tsing Yi station, Elements at Kowloon station, PopCorn at Tseung Kwan O, and Luk Yeung Galleria at Tsuen Wan.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
EU Majority Demands Hungary Reverse Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws
Top Hotel Picks for 2025 Stays in Budapest Revealed
Iron Maiden Unveils 2025 Tour Setlist in Budapest
Chinese Film Week Opens in Budapest to Promote Cultural Exchange
Budapest Airport Launches Direct Flights to Shymkent
Von der Leyen Denies Urging EU Officials to Skip Budapest Pride
Alcaraz and Sinner Advance with Convincing Wins at Roland Garros
EU Ministers Lack Consensus on Sanctioning Hungary Over Rule of Law
EU Nations Urge Action Against Hungary's Pride Parade Ban
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
U.S. Considers Withdrawing Troops from Europe
Russia Deploys Motorbike Squads in Ukraine Conflict
Critics Accuse European Court of Human Rights of Overreach
Spain Proposes 100% Tax on Non-EU Holiday Home Purchases
German Intelligence Labels AfD as Far-Right Extremist
Geert Wilders Threatens Dutch Coalition Over Migration Policy
Hungary Faces Multiple Challenges Amid EU Tensions and Political Shifts
Denmark Increases Retirement Age to 70, Setting a European Precedent
Any trade deal with US must be based on respect not threats', says EU commissioner
UK Leads in Remote Work Adoption, Averaging 1.8 Days a Week
Thirteen Killed in Russian Attacks Across Ukraine
High-Profile Incidents and Political Developments Dominate Global News
Netanyahu Accuses Western Leaders of 'Emboldening Hamas'
Ukraine and Russia Conduct Largest Prisoner Exchange of the War
×