Judge Explains Reason For Not Allowing Injunction

A High Court judge says he refused to grant an interim injunction to pro-democracy legislators against the government's mask ban because he didn't feel able to conclude at this stage that that there's a strong prima facie case that the law is invalid.

In the written judgement handed down on Tuesday, Justice Godfrey Lam said it would be difficult and rash to form a considered view on the merits now, given the complexity of the matter.

The judge also said the level of violence had been escalating even before the ban came into effect, and the protection of the safety of the public is a very important factor to take into account.

A hearing on the judicial review will be held later this month.

The court earlier refused activist Lester Shum's application to grant an interim injunction - minutes before the anti-mask regulation came into effect on Saturday.