The Government has just announced (28 April 2021) some relaxed social distancing measures, effective 29 April 2021.

On condition that all participants of a group gathering who are aged 16 or above have received the first COVID-19 vaccine dose, —

1. the number of persons allowed at each wedding ceremony where no food or drink is served (except as part of religious ritual) will be increased from 20 at present to 50 for indoor premises and 100 for outdoor premises;
2. the number of persons allowed at each religious gathering (e.g. Mass) where no food or drink is served (except as part of religious ritual) will be increased from 30% of the normal capacity of the premises to 50% for indoor premises and 100% for outdoor premises.

The above relaxed measures, however, are rather cumbersome for our faithful and for our churches or Mass centres to comply with.  Moreover, those measures do not apply to participants aged 15 or below, and  there are special arrangements for those aged 16 or above who are unfit to receive COVID-19 vaccination because of health reasons.  Therefore, Cardinal John Tong, after consultation with the Diocesan Curia, has decided that our churches and Mass centres will stick to the more straightforward Government measures previously announced and still in force (together with the common precautionary measures), that is,

1. the number of persons at each religious gathering should be limited to 30% of the normal capacity of the church;
2. the number of participants at wedding ceremonies where no food or drink is served (except as part of religious ritual) should be 20. (Note: The faithful may request a wedding with participants of 50 persons, but they must meet the above-mentioned conditions laid down by the Government.)

Given at the Chancery Office,

30 April 2021.
Rev. Lawrence Lee
Chancellor