This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Scientific Evidence Supporting Mask Protocol'.

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 寄件者:
Enquiry FHB <[email protected]>
寄件日期:
2021年8月31日星期二 18:02
收件者:
Allyson van de Pol
主旨:
*Restricted: Re: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Scientific Evidence
Supporting Mask Protocol
附件:
Reply - request for review (final).docx
Dear Sir/Madam,  
Your email dated 16 August 2021 to the Department of Health has been referred to the Food and Health 
Bureau.  This Bureau has conducted a review to the handling of your request for information made on 2 July 
2021, to which a reply was issued on 30 July 2021.  Please find our response in the ensuing paragraphs.  
As set out in our previous reply, in formulating the mandatory mask-wearing requirement, we have taken into 
account the experts' and the World Health Organization (WHO)'s advice in respect of wearing of mask as one 
of the critical anti-epidemic measures, including the WHO's guidance titled "Mask Use in the Context of 
COVID-19" published on 5 June 2020 and subsequently updated on 1 December 2020 (available at 
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-in-the-community-during-home-care-and-
in-healthcare-settings-in-the-context-of-the-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)-outbreak) (the WHO’s 
guidance).  In particular, the WHO’s guidance is based on, inter alia, ongoing evaluations of all available 
scientific evidence relevant to the use of masks for reducing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes 
COVID-19) by the WHO ad hoc COVI-19 Infection Prevention and Control Guidance Development Group.  
In sum, the WHO advises the use of masks as part of a comprehensive package of prevention and control 
measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, along with other infection prevention and control measures include 
hand hygiene, physical distancing of at least 1 metre, testing, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation etc.    
Knowledge about transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is evolving continuously as new evidence 
accumulates.  According to the WHO’s guidance, the virus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose 
in small liquid particles when the person coughs, sneezes, sings, breathes heavily or talks.  Fomite transmission 
is considered a possible mode of transmission for SARS-CoV-2, given consistent finding of environmental 
contamination in the vicinity of people infected with SARSCoV-2 and the fact that other coronaviruses and 
respiratory viruses can be transmitted this way. Also, aerosol transmission can occur in specific situations in 
which procedures that generate aerosols are performed.  
In health care settings, there are scientific evidences supporting the use of mask for preventing the spread of the 
virus.  A systematic review of observational studies on the betacoronaviruses that cause severe acute respiratory 
syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and COVID-19 found that the use of face 
protection (including respirators and medical masks) is associated with reduced risk of infection among health 
workers.  Also, two studies found that implementation of a universal masking policy in hospital systems was 
associated with decreased risk of healthcare-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection.  
In community settings, while there is currently no conclusive scientific evidence on the use of mask for 
preventing the spread of the virus, some studies show that wearing of mask is associated with lower risk of 
infection of COVID-19.  A small retrospective cohort study from Beijing found that mask use by entire families 
before the first family member developed COVID-19 symptoms was 79% effective in reducing 
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transmission.  A case-control study from Thailand found that wearing a medical or non-medical mask all the 
time during contact with a COVID19 patient was associated with a 77% lower risk of infection.  Several small 
observational studies with epidemiological data have reported an association between mask use by an infected 
person and prevention of onward transmission of SARSCoV-2 infection in public settings.  A number of 
studies, some peer reviewed but most published as pre-prints, reported a decline in the COVID-19 cases 
associated with face mask usage by the public, using country- or region-level data.  
 
At the same time, it should be noted that the global COVID-19 epidemic situation is still under serious threat 
from the Delta variant, with acute surges in the number of confirmed cases within a short period of time in 
many countries.  Despite large-scale vaccination programmes, many places are also experiencing resurgence of 
the virus, which poses enormous challenges to our local anti-epidemic efforts.  While the local vaccination rate 
has been increasing, it has shown signs of slowing down in recent days and is far from the level required to 
prevent imported cases from spreading in the local community.  
 
Having regard to the above WHO’s guidance as well as other factors including public health risk assessment, 
higher transmissibility of Delta and other variants, feasibility of mandatory wearing of mask and the local 
context etc., the Government considers that the mandatory mask-wearing requirement should be maintained 
under the current public health emergency, with a view to preventing the spread of the virus in the local 
community which could take a heavy toll on human lives, our public healthcare system and the economy.  
 
The Government will continue to review and adjust the social distancing measures including the mask-wearing 
requirement from time to time, having regard to, inter alia, the development of the epidemic situation, risk 
assessment and experts' advice.    
 
If you are dissatisfied with this Bureau’s response after review, you may also complain to the 
Ombudsman.  The Ombudsman can be contacted at –  
Address: 30/F, China Merchants Tower, Shun Tak Centre, 168-200 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong  
Telephone : (852) 2629 0555  
Fax : (852) 2882 8149  
Email: [email protected].  
 
Food and Health Bureau  
 
 
   
From: Enquiry FHB [mailto:[email protected] 
Sent:
 Friday, August 27, 2021 9:26 AM 
To:
 Allyson van de Pol <foi+request‐693‐[email protected]> 
Subject:
 *Restricted: Re: Internal review of Freedom of Information request ‐ Scientific Evidence Supporting Mask Protocol  
   
Dear Sir/Madam,  
 
The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) has received your application for review under the Code on 
Access to Information on 18 August 2021. Your application is now under processing. According to 
paragraph 1.16 of the Code on Access to Information, you will be informed of the latest progress of 
the case separately on or before 7 September 2021.  
 
In the meantime, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected] if you have any enquiry. Thank 
you.  
 
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Yours faithfully,  
(Mandy FUNG)  
for Secretary for Food and Health  
 
 
 
From:        Allyson van de Pol <[email protected]>  
To:        FOI requests at Department of Health <[email protected]>  
Date:        16/08/2021 15:04  
Subject:        Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Scientific Evidence Supporting Mask Protocol  
 
 
 
 
 
Dear Department of Health, 
 
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews. 
 
I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Health's handling of my FOI 
request 'Scientific Evidence Supporting Mask Protocol'. 
 
I have asked specifically which studies you are following  that shows that mask wearing 
stops transmission of viruses and along with a risk/ benefit analysis that overall proves 
they are beneficial. So far no studies have been provided. I also asked when we will be 
able to stop wearing masks? 
 
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at 
this address: https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/scientific_evidence_supporting_m 
 
Yours faithfully, 
 
Allyson van de Pol 
 
 
 
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