Hong Kong leader ‘mulls ban on face masks’ amid protests
Demonstrators use the coverings to protect themselves from tear gas as well as hide their identities
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Your support makes all the difference.Hong Kong’s government is expected to weigh the use of emergency laws to ban the wearing of face masks at protests on Friday, according to reports.
Carrie Lam, the city’s embattled leader, is to hold a special executive council meeting to discuss the ban, which would make use of a tough colonial-era emergency law.
Protesters have used masks to protect themselves from tear gas and conceal their identities during months of pro-democracy marches. The protests first erupted when the government proposed a law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, but now demonstrators want electoral reform.
Reuters cited a source with inside knowledge in a report on the proposed ban, while the Associated Press quoted local media. Ms Lam’s office did not comment, though Michael Tien, a pro-Beijing politician, confirmed the council meeting would take place.
This week Hong Kong has seen some of its most violent protests and police responses yet. Anger against the government has built up since Tsang Chi-kin was shot at close range after he struck a police officer with a rod.
Mr Tsang, 18, was charged with rioting on Thursday alongside six others; he also faces two additional counts of attacking two police officers, punishable by up to six months in prison. Rioting carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Thousands of people took to the streets on Thursday night to demand police be held to account for the shooting. Dozens stuck anti-police posters and well-wishes for Mr Tsang on fencing outside his school in the northern Tsuen Wan district.
In the Taikoo Shing area, riot police fired volleys of tear gas after some protesters set up road barriers and smashed a surveillance camera at a subway exit. Hundreds of people earlier shouted abuse at riot police, who used pepper spray and detained at least two people.
In the UK, up to 200 Hong Kong and Chinese students clashed after a pro-democracy rally was hijacked by counter-protesters. A witness described the scenes, in Sheffield on Wednesday – a day after China’s national day celebrating 50 years of communist rule – as “outrageous”.
Additional reporting by agencies
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