Mask Law Already Has A Deterrent Effect: Maria Tam

"); jQuery("#212 h3").html("

Related News Programmes

"); });

2019-10-09 HKT 18:18

Share this story

facebook

  • The new law has stopped some youngsters from joining unlawful assemblies, says Maria Tam. Photo: RTHK

    The new law has stopped some youngsters from joining unlawful assemblies, says Maria Tam. Photo: RTHK

A deputy director of Beijing's Basic Law Committee, Maria Tam, said on Wednesday that she thinks Hong Kong's anti-mask law has had a deterrent effect on young people "on the fringe", stopping them from joining unlawful assemblies.

She said more teenagers have been getting arrested in recent weeks and she hopes the new law will make them think twice before going out to join such events.

"So the most important thing is to let the young people know if anyone asks you to go out and join an unlawful assembly or a public assembly, and you put on a mask and nobody is going to cause you any problem, those days are gone," she said. "So you better not got out with a mask."

"That in, some ways, will keep you out of trouble. That is the deterrent effect I wish to see," said Tam.

On an RTHK TV programme, Tam said that hardcore protesters, however, are unlikely to be deterred by the new law.

She also said she has received WhatsApp messages purportedly showing protesters dressed in black, knocking on doors asking for people to donate money towards the protest action.

Tam said this kind of behaviour makes people feel unsafe, and the authorities and district councillors should join hands to improve the security of buildings.

RECENT NEWS

2025 Hong Kong Fintech Report: What You Need To Know

Hong Kong is hitting the gas when it comes to fintech innovation, regulation and adoption. From the passage of the Stab... Read more

DigiFT Secures SFC Licenses To Offer Tokenised Asset Services In Hong Kong

DigiFT, a Singapore-based digital asset platform focused on institutional-grade tokenised real-world assets (RWAs), has... Read more

JCB Contactless Cards Now Accepted On Shanghai And Beijing Subways

Japan’s JCB has announced that JCB cardholders can now use their contactless cards to access the subway systems in Sh... Read more

Hong Kong Sets Out Next Phase Of Digital Asset Policy

Hong Kong’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) has issued an updated policy statement setting out the ... Read more

Hong Kong Overtakes Singapore In Wealthtech Adoption

Across Asia-Pacific (APAC)’s key wealth management hubs, Hong Kong is emerging as the frontrunner in wealthtech, over... Read more

Chinas AI Capex To Hit 700 Billion Yuan In 2025 Amid US Tech Rivalry

Capital expenditure on AI in China is expected to reach between 600 billion yuan and 700 billion yuan (US$84 billion to... Read more