Taiwan's Assembly and Parade Act contains a provision similar to the ban on the use of masks enacted by Hong Kong. Recently, Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je and the central government disagreed over whether the police will enforce these provisions. In response, Interior Minister Hsu Kuo-yung said Ko should familiarize himself with relevant laws.
Several days ago, the Hong Kong government announced a ban on the use of face masks at protests, leading to questions about whether this violated human rights. In Taiwan, the Assembly and Parade Act contains provisions banning covered faces. Many protests take place in Taipei, resulting in questions about how the police will actually enforce these provisions. Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je said he believes the police should administrate by law, which put him in disagreement with the central government. During a legislative interpellation on Oct. 7, Interior Minister Hsu Kuo-yung fired back at Ko.
He should familiarize himself with law-based administration. I have already clearly explained law-based administration is already here and told him to study the related provisions some more.
Under Article 14 of the Assembly and Parade Act, competent authorities "shall" put necessary restrictions on "any disguising that might make personal identification difficult." In 2016, the legislature's Internal Administration Committee passed the first reading of an amendment to delete this clause. However, the amendment did not go to a third reading. The blue camp says it attempted five times to put this issue to a vote in the legislature, but was vetoed every single time. It urged the green camp to amend the law instead of fixing games. The two sides also debated the act's provisions and applicability standards for the police.
If Huang Chao-shun goes out and throws eggs, and then goes to protest while wearing a mask of Tsai Ing-wen's face, is this considered to be a violation of the law? I don't think you'll go out and throw eggs, nor will you wear a mask of Tsai Ing-wen's face. I would throw eggs, I would a mask of Tsai Ing-wen. I don't think you will.
When it (the law) is manipulated for political reasons, then those who might end up losing will be grassroots police officers. Yes, there is such a provision under law, but here in Taiwan there is virtually no penalty, and we have virtually never imposed restrictions. Why? Because this is what is so cute about Taiwan's freedom and democracy.
Hsu said he supports amending the law. Moreover, the current law uses the word "shall," and refers to a ban on possible violent behavior. However, in the past dozen or so years, the police have never imposed restrictions. Hsu also said he will listen to the opinions of relevant authorities to serve as a basis for amendments.