HONG KONG – Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu on Wednesday said the police had issued letters of objection for two public gatherings planned for May 30 and June 4.

At a media session after attending a Legislative Council meeting, Lee noted that the Commissioner of Police has been handling the requests for public meetings and gatherings in accordance with the Public Order Ordinance.

The Chief Secretary for Administration's Office also said that the gatherings planned for May 30 and June 4 would not meet the conditions under the regulation on group gatherings during the pandemic

"In connection with the May 30 and June 4 public gatherings, the Commissioner of Police takes (into consideration) factors that are prevailing. Our decision is made in accordance with Hong Kong law,” he said.

In a statement, the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office also said that the events planned for May 30 and June 4 would not meet the conditions under the regulation on group gatherings during the pandemic.

The organization that planned to hold the two events had requested Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung King-chung to permit the gatherings under section 5 of the Prevention & Control of Diseases Regulation.

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According to the statement, the office noted that on the basis of the information provided by the organization, the government is unable to establish that the proposed procession and gathering would meet the conditions under section 5 of the regulation.

It also pointed out that the pandemic situation remains severe and the number of cases, including those with mutant strains, around the world is rising continuously.