General Information for Public Meetings / Processions
(include notifiable and notified public order events only)

(A) Role and General Requirements of Marshals

Role

1. Assist the organizer to maintain order during the event; and
2. Take reasonable measures to ensure the safety of the participants.

General Requirements

1. The marshals should be clearly identified by coloured coats, vests, caps or arm-bands;
2. Be conversant with the facilities and layout of the venue, and the activities to be conducted;
3. Be conversant with the conditions imposed, if any, by the Police under the Public Order Ordinance, Cap. 245;
4. Be equipped with communication device and/or loudhailer as far as practicable;
5. Inform the Police and appeal to relevant persons not to engage in illegal conduct if it is anticipated that public order or public safety may be jeopardized;
6. Priority should be given to taking care of young persons, the elderly, the disabled or anyone in need of special care, if necessary;
7. Assign a ‘head marshal’ to be the contact person and maintain close liaison with the Police;
8. Comply with all lawful orders given by police officers;
9. Control the volume of any amplification device so that it would not exceed the tolerable level of a reasonable person;
10. Assist the Police to manage the crowd; and
11. Assist the organizer to clean up the venue upon conclusion of the event.

(B) Other Relevant Legislation and Advisory Notes

The organizer of public meeting/public procession should take note of the following points, whenever applicable:

1. The organizer should apply to other organizations for permission to use locations or premises under their administration.
2. The organizer or, if he is not present, a person nominated by him to act in his place, should with due diligence appeal to all participants to comply with any direction given by any police officer, and obey the existing laws and regulations, in particular:
   
   

• Intimidation: Under section 24 of the Crimes Ordinance, Cap. 200, no person shall threaten any other person with any injury to the person, reputation or property of such other person. Any person doing so with intent to alarm the person so threatened or any other person shall be guilty of an offence;
  
  
• Defilement of National or SAR Flags or Emblems: Under section 7 of the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance and section 7 of the Regional Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance of the Laws of Hong Kong, no person shall publicly and intentionally desecrate the national flag, national emblem, regional flag and regional emblem by burning, mutilating, scrawling on, defiling or trampling on them;
  
  
• Bonfires: Under section 4(14) of the Summary Offences Ordinance, Cap. 228, no person shall wantonly or negligently make any bonfire to the damage or danger of any person;
  
  
• Road Traffic: A person shall abide by the provisions in the Road Traffic Ordinance, Cap. 374, the Public Bus Services Ordinance, Cap. 230 (e.g. No passenger shall stand on the upper deck of a bus while the bus is moving), the Fixed Penalty (Traffic Contraventions) Ordinance, Cap. 237, the Fixed Penalty (Criminal Proceedings) Ordinance, Cap. 240, and the related subsidiary legislation at all times;
  
  
• Vehicles: Any vehicles participating in the event should be roadworthy in accordance with the provisions of the Road Traffic Ordinance, Cap. 374, and the related subsidiary legislation;
  
  
• Fund-raising Activities: Under section 4(17) of the Summary Offences Ordinance, Cap. 228, no person shall participate in any fund-raising, flag selling or exchange activities unless with a permit issued by the Director of Social Welfare or the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs;
  
  
• Hawking: No person shall engage in hawking activities in contravention of section 5 or 10 of the Hawker Regulation, Cap. 132AI, under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance unless with a licence issued by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department;
  
  
• Noise: Under section 5 of the Noise Control Ordinance, Cap. 400, any person who at any time in any domestic premises or public place plays or operates any musical or other instrument, the noise of which is a source of annoyance to any person shall be guilty of an offence;
  
  
• Lion/Dragon/Unicorn Dance: Under section 4C of the Summary Offences Ordinance, Cap. 228, any person who organizes or participates in a lion dance, dragon dance or unicorn dance, or any attendant martial arts display, in a public place, save under and in accordance with the conditions of any such general or special permit as the Commissioner of Police in his absolute discretion may issue, shall be guilty of an offence;
  
  
• Posters: Under section 104A of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132, and section 4A of the Summary Offences Ordinance, Cap. 228, unless with a written approval from the landlord or occupants, no person shall affix a poster/notice or the like on the wall of any building, or abandon such matter in any public place which causes obstruction;
  
  
• Obstruction of Public Places: Under section 4A of the Summary Offences Ordinance, Cap. 228, any person who without lawful authority or excuse sets out or leaves, or causes to be set out or left, any matter or thing which obstructs, inconveniences or endangers, or may obstruct, inconvenience or endanger, any person or vehicle in a public place shall be guilty of an offence;
  
  
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): Under section 48 of the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995, Cap. 448C, and section 22 of the Small Unmanned Aircraft Order, Cap. 448G, any person recklessly or negligently cause or permit an unmanned aircraft to endanger any person or property shall be guilty of an offence; and
  
  
• Graffiti: Under section 8 of the Summary Offences Ordinance, Cap. 228, no person shall write upon, soil, deface or mark any building or wall with chalk or paint without the consent of the owner or occupier.