The Security Bureau today urged members of the public not to enter Victoria Park as the central lawn, football pitches and basketball courts and access to those areas have been closed by Police.

In a statement, the bureau said the public must comply with the order or else they will contravene the law.

According to section 17(4) of the Public Order Ordinance, if a police officer has reason to believe that a public meeting is likely to take place in any public place in contravention of the ordinance, the officer may cause access to that public place and to any other public place adjacent thereto to be barred and to be closed to the public for such time as may be necessary to prevent the public meeting from taking place.

As such, any person who, without permission, knowingly enters or remains in a public place to which access has been closed commits an offence, and is liable to a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment.

Police earlier prohibited an organisation from holding a meeting at Victoria Park in accordance with the ordinance. The decision was confirmed by the Appeal Board on Public Meetings & Processions following a hearing.

Additionally, any person who takes part in a public order event in other places, that is subject to regulation under the ordinance but not authorised thereunder, is also taking part in an unauthorised assembly. They are liable to a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.

The bureau reiterated that no one should take part in, advertise or publicise an unauthorised assembly.

Anyone who attempts to challenge the law, including the Prohibition on Group Gathering, Public Order Ordinance and the National Security Law, will be seriously dealt with by Police in accordance with the law, the bureau added.