Crowd Limit To Apply During Ching Ming Festival

Government officials said the restriction on more than four people getting together would apply during the Ching Ming festival on April 4.

They appealed to the public to observe social distancing strictly as Hong Kong is facing a critical situation.

At a media briefing held ahead of the new restrictions kicking in at 6pm on Saturday, deputy secretary for food and health, Howard Chan, said unless the people were from the same home, a group of more than four should not be together during tomb sweeping rituals.

He also appealed to people to delay tomb sweeping. "We understand some gatherings but we hope people can try to delay these gatherings,” said Chan.

“There's an exemption for people living together. If they go tomb sweeping together, they're exempted.”

Permanent Secretary for Food and Health Elizabeth Tse said these are “exceptional measures during an exceptional period”.

“The effectiveness of the law is measured by whether it can prevent the spread of the virus,” said Tse. “We rely on people's self-discipline but not prosecution.”

Under the law, organisers, participants, and operators of the venues of "illegal" public gatherings could be fined HK$25,000 and jailed for six months.

Health Secretary Sophia Chan said the government hoped to prevent gatherings as many infections were known to be spread at gatherings. She hoped people would exercise self-restraint.

"Our purpose is not to arrest and prosecute people,” she said.