3 people breach mask-wearing law
Three people were prosecuted today for failing to wear a mask while in markets, contravening (Cap 599I) under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation.
This was the first time the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department instituted prosecutions against people for breaching the regulation, which states that all people have to wear a mask in indoor public places.
During inspections today, the department’s officers found that two operators in Pei Ho Street Market and To Kwa Wan Market and a man who delivered goods to Shui Wo Street Market had failed to wear a mask.
After verbal warnings were ignored, the three people were prosecuted.
Under the regulation, any individual who does not wear a mask in accordance with the requirement commits an offence and the maximum penalty is a fine of $5,000 or a fixed penalty of $2,000.
The department emphasised that it will continue to step up inspections and enforcement action to ensure compliance with the requirement.