Hong Kong to lift its COVID mask mandate on Wednesday The city's chief executive said the mask requirement will end outdoors and indoors, but some high-risk premises including hospitals and elderly homes can still require people to wear masks.

One of the last places to have a COVID mask mandate says it will lift it Wednesday

Commuters wearing face masks ride a train in Hong Kong earlier this month. Andy Wong/AP hide caption

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Andy Wong/AP

Commuters wearing face masks ride a train in Hong Kong earlier this month.

Andy Wong/AP

Hong Kong is dropping its mask mandate — making it one of the last international cities to stop requiring face coverings after the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The controversial mandate began nearly three years ago and at one point was so strict that it required people exercising outdoors to remain masked.

People found in violation of the mask mandate could be fined up to the equivalent of $1,000.

Starting Wednesday however, people will no longer need to wear masks indoor or outdoors, though masks will still be required at senior care homes and health care facilities.

Taiwan, close by to Hong kong, just dropped its last indoor mask mandates earlier this month, though it still requires masks on public transport and in health facilities.