HK’s Court of Final Appeal upholds 2019 anti-mask law

In this Oct 6, 2019 photo, masked protesters use umbrellas to hold frontline as they clash with police in Hong Kong. - AP

HONG KONG (China Daily/ANN): Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal on Monday (Dec 21) ruled in favour of the government which invoked the Emergency Regulations Ordinance to bring into force the anti-mask law in early October, 2019.

The court ruled that the Chief Executive in Council had been legitimate in making the law in light of the “public danger” of prolonged violence and unlawfulness at that time and the prohibitions in the law were proportionate and therefore lawful restrictions of protected rights.