Mask-wearing requirement to be lifted

February 28, 2023

Chief Executive John Lee:

I have always told people that I will be monitoring the situation for Hong Kong in regard to the total number of infected cases, the overall trend and the different data that indicates the situation of COVID-19 in Hong Kong. 

And it is because of the overall assessment of all the factors that have been taken into account that I made the decision.

So after looking at all the data, the trend and the fact that the winter surge (of influenza) is nearing the end, in order to give people a very clear message that Hong Kong is resuming to normalcy, I think this is the right time to make the decision. 

And that is why today I made the announcement to lift the masking requirement as soon as possible - that is starting from tomorrow. 

With the masking requirement removed, we are starting to resume to normalcy comprehensively and that will be very beneficial to the economic development, our international competitiveness, as well as our activities which involve everyone in Hong Kong

To ensure that we will continue to protect public health, we have also indicated that for premises or groups which will be regarded as high risk, then the person in charge of the place can still ask people to wear masks. 

We will also continue to monitor the situation, including some analysis of the imported cases so as to ensure that the overall virus variation will be kept under control.

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive John Lee announced today that the Government will lift the mask-wearing requirement starting March 1 after assessing the overall COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong.

Mr Lee made the statement ahead of this morning’s Executive Council meeting and explained to reporters that the decision was made given the local epidemic situation is under control and the chance of a rebound is slim.

He stressed that Hong Kong has also built a wide and comprehensive immunity barrier.

“After looking at all the data, the trend and the fact that the winter surge (of influenza) is nearing the end, in order to give people a very clear message that Hong Kong is resuming to normalcy, I think this is the right time to make the decision.”

Citizens will no longer be required to wear masks either indoors or outdoors, or on public transport carriers.

However, to protect public health, Mr Lee stated that those in charge of premises regarded as high risk, such as hospitals, may ask people to wear masks.

Once the mask mandate is dropped, the Chief Executive said Hong Kong can continue on the path towards normalcy.

“With the masking requirement removed, we are starting to resume to normalcy comprehensively and that will be very beneficial to the economic development, our international competitiveness, as well as our activities which involve everyone in Hong Kong.”