The new arrangements came after Hong Kong’s leader John Lee Ka-chiu announced on Tuesday morning that the city would drop the mask-on requirement from March 1 and be reflected in the Education Bureau’s latest Health Protection Measures for Schools scheduled to be issued today.

"It’s good for students to strengthen communication skills without masks as many of them have suffered the ability to make facial expression, which deteriorated after wearing on masks for three years," said the Chairman of the Subsidized Primary Schools Council Langton Cheung Yung-pong, "but students could still keep wearing masks if they have health concerns."

"I would keep wearing masks because my diploma exams are coming, and I need to keep healthy then," said a secondary six schoolchild surnamed Chan, "I got used to it."

"We would not urge students to put on masks, but we assumed it is a good way to keep students from infection with the lowest cost," said Principal Dr. Wong Ching-yung of Scientia Secondary School.

Government pandemic adviser David Hui Shu-cheong also recommended students, especially at younger ages, put on masks when attending events with crowds or taking public transportation, citing young children would be a group vulnerable to respiratory diseases.