Hong Kong’s security minister has sought to justify controversial new rules imposed on residents taking part in rallies, including wearing numbered lanyards, as necessary to ensure public safety and prevent the events from being “hijacked” by malicious people.

In approving marches for this weekend, police told organisers that participants must clearly display the tags or wear clothing that identified them as belonging to the group and refrain from wearing masks that covered their faces, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung on Sunday said.

“Police took measures based on risk assessments to identify participants, control the number of people within a safe limit and prevent anyone from hijacking the events that could endanger social security,” he said.