HONG KONG - A Hong Kong appeals court on Thursday ruled constitutional a government ban on wearing face masks at unauthorized assemblies and demonstrations.

READ MORE: Govt: Mask ban in line with Basic Law

The Court of Appeal of the High Court, however, ruled that it is in violation of the Basic Law when the anti-mask law is applied to authorized assemblies and demonstrations. 

The verdict came after the SAR government appealed against a High Court judgment on Nov 18 which ruled that it was unconstitutional for the government to introduce the Prohibition on Face Covering Regulation under the Emergency Regulations Ordinance

A section of the law allowing police to ask people to remove face masks in public areas without valid reasons is also unconstitutional, the court ruled.

The verdict came after the special administrative region government appealed against a High Court judgment on Nov 18 which ruled that it was unconstitutional for the government to introduce the Prohibition on Face Covering Regulation under the Emergency Regulations Ordinance.

In Thursday’s judgement, the Court of Appeal said the Chief Executive is entitled to introduce a regulation under the Emergency Regulations Ordinance in a state of public danger.

In effect since Oct 5, the anti-mask law banned face covering in any public gatherings including lawful ones in a bid to stifle violent protests by masked mobs.

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Twenty-four opposition lawmakers and activist Leung Kwok-hung lodged a judicial review on the anti-mask law right after it came into effective.

Contact the writer at heshusi@chinadailyhk.com