In respect of earlier announcements by the Government on adjustments to social distancing measures in three stages, the Chief Executive in Council approved today amendments to the relevant regulations.

In accordance with the amended Prevention & Control of Disease (Prohibition on Gathering) Regulation (Cap 599G), the Secretary for Food & Health will specify the maximum number of persons in a group gathering in public places as four people from tomorrow, except for gatherings of persons from the same household.

Meanwhile, the prohibition of multi-household gathering in a private place involving more than two households imposed earlier will also be lifted starting tomorrow.

The second item of amendment concerns the reasonable excuses for not wearing a mask under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap 599I), empowering the Secretary for Food & Health to make a specification on whether engaging in strenuous physical activity in outdoor public places may be one of the reasonable excuses for not wearing a mask during a specified period.

The Government emphasised that the adjustments to social distancing measures in the first stage do not cover the relaxation of mask-wearing requirement in public places. Members of the public must continue to wear a mask on all public transport and in public places.

It is in the Government's plan to allow members of the public not to wear a mask when being present in a country park or engaging in strenuous physical activity in outdoor places during the second stage of adjustments to social distancing measures when the epidemic situation permits in future.