​The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (July 27) that three persons were prosecuted for failing to wear a mask in markets, contravening the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap.599I) (Regulation). This was the first time the FEHD instituted prosecutions against persons for contravening the requirement under the Regulation. 

     A spokesman for the FEHD said that since the implementation of the Regulation, the FEHD has stepped up inspection at its markets to ensure compliance with the requirements under the Regulation that all persons have to wear a mask in indoor public places. During inspections today, FEHD officers found that two operators in Pei Ho Street Market and To Kwa Wan Market respectively, and a man who delivered goods to Shui Wo Street Market had failed to wear a mask in the markets. After verbal warnings were ignored, the three persons were prosecuted.

     Under the Regulation, any person 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 spokesman said, "To protect the health and safety of market tenants and the public, the FEHD urges the public to comply with the requirement under the Regulation to wear a mask in markets. The FEHD will continue to step up inspections and enforcement actions to ensure compliance with the requirement."

Ends/Monday, July 27, 2020
Issued at HKT 21:00

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