The government was given “unrestricted nuclear power” to do whatever it wants with the emergency power given to Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the Court of Final Appeal was told today. Senior Counsel Gladys Li Chi-hei, representing 25 former pro-democracy lawmakers, put forward such an argument to the court, regarding the Emergency Regulations Ordinance that Carrie Lam invoked in October last year to ban face masks at protests in the city. Not happy with the partial victory, the pan-dems again challenge the Court of Appeal ruling. Li said the emergency power given to the Chief Executive to launch subordinate regulations has bypassed the legislative process and public participation in the making of law. He said it undermines citizens’ fundamental rights, especially for those wearing sunglasses or scarves for good reasons.

Source: The Standard November 24, 2020 07:18 UTC