Pro-establishment Chairman For Mask-vetting Panel

DAB lawmaker Wong Ting-kwong has been elected to lead a Legco bills committee that will vet the city's anti-mask law – which the government imposed almost three weeks ago using emergency regulations.

The election process was smooth, with Wong defeating the Civic Party's Dennis Kwok in the pro-establishment weighted committee. The New People's Party's Eunice Yung was selected as deputy chairwoman.

Lawmakers have about one month to scrutinise the bill, but it's uncertain if they can amend or repeal the law, pending the outcome of a legal challenge.

The law was put in place on October 4, using the colonial-era Emergency Regulations Ordinance, as the administration sought to crack down on increasingly violent anti-government protests.

However, protesters have continued to wear masks during both authorised and illegal assemblies, as the city’s worst crisis since the handover continues.