Education Bureau Advises On Anti-Mask Law

Hong Kong's Education Bureau has said that students should not wear masks in or outside schools. School principals were sent the directive following the government's introduction of an anti-mask law that is targeted at protesters. There has been unrest across Hong Kong for the past four months city, sparked by a now withdrawn bill to allow suspects in Hong Kong to be extradited to mainland China.

In a letter addressed to schools across Hong Kong, the Education Bureau (EDB) says that wearing masks in regulated public events or unlawful assemblies is an offence. It also said that students should not be wearing masks in school, unless they were for health or religious reasons; students who are ill should stay at home.

The letter states that teachers and parents should “set a good example” for students, and that the school was not a place to express political views.

The EDB also warned students "to put safety first at all times and return home as soon as possible after school. They should not wander on the streets or go to potentially dangerous places, and should never participate in unlawful activities".