HK protesters defy mask ban as city grinds to halt

Rights chief says troubled by violence

Masked pro-democracy protesters marched through Hong Kong in defiance of a ban on face coverings as much of the city ground to a halt yesterday, with the subway suspended and many shops shuttered following another night of violence.

Hundreds of protesters staged unsanctioned marches and flashmob protests at multiple locations, a day after the city’s leader outlawed face coverings at protests invoking colonial-era emergency powers not used for half a century.

The latest acts of resistance came after a night of widespread chaos as hardcore protesters trashed dozens of subway stations, vandalised shops, built fires and blocked roads.

As the crowds were marching, city leader Carrie Lam released a stony-faced video statement in which she condemned protesters for “a very dark night”.

“We cannot allow rioters any more to destroy our treasured Hong Kong,” Lam said as she called on citizens to distance themselves from the more hardcore protesters.

Hosun Lee was among a crowd of demonstrators marching through Causeway Bay, a popular shopping district.

“The anti-face mask law is the first step,” he told AFP.

“If we don’t stand up and resist, then it could be that 2047 has already come,” he added, referencing the year semi-autonomous Hong Kong becomes fully part of the authoritarian Chinese mainland. Another news from Kuala Lumpur adds: UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said yesterday she was “troubled” by Hong Kong’s increasingly violent pro-democracy protests, and stressed that any measures to quell the unrest must be grounded in law.

The city endured another night of chaos Friday, after leader Carrie Lam banned face masks at demonstrations, invoking colonial-era emergency powers not used for half a century.

Hardcore protesters trashed dozens of subway stations, vandalised shops with mainland China ties, built fires and blocked fires.

 

HK protesters defy mask ban as city grinds to halt

Rights chief says troubled by violence

Masked pro-democracy protesters marched through Hong Kong in defiance of a ban on face coverings as much of the city ground to a halt yesterday, with the subway suspended and many shops shuttered following another night of violence. Hundreds of protesters staged unsanctioned marches and flashmob protests at multiple locations, a day after the citys leader outlawed face coverings at protests invoking colonial-era emergency powers not used for half a century. The latest acts of resistance came after a night of widespread chaos as hardcore protesters trashed dozens of subway stations, vandalised shops, built fires and blocked roads. As the crowds were marching, city leader Carrie Lam released a stony-faced video statement in which she condemned protesters for a very dark night. We cannot allow rioters any more to destroy our treasured Hong Kong, Lam said as she called on citizens to distance themselves from the more hardcore protesters. Hosun Lee was among a crowd of demonstrators marching through Causeway Bay, a popular shopping district. The anti-face mask law is the first step, he told AFP. If we dont stand up and resist, then it could be that 2047 has already come, he added, referencing the year semi-autonomous Hong Kong becomes fully part of the authoritarian Chinese mainland. Another news from Kuala Lumpur adds: UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said yesterday she was troubled by Hong Kongs increasingly violent pro-democracy protests, and stressed that any measures to quell the unrest must be grounded in law. The city endured another night of chaos Friday, after leader Carrie Lam banned face masks at demonstrations, invoking colonial-era emergency powers not used for half a century. Hardcore protesters trashed dozens of subway stations, vandalised shops with mainland China ties, built fires and blocked fires.