Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam has banned anti-government protesters from wearing masks during rallies in a bid to curb the city’s escalating violence caused by anti-government demonstrations that have lasted for nearly four months.
This is the first time the city’s government has invoked colonial-era emergency powers in more than 50 years in a dramatic move intended to quell intensifying unrest.
The Beijing-backed leader said the decision would come into force on Saturday, adding: ‘We must stop the violence’. Protesters will also be prohibited from painting their faces to hide their identity.
Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam has banned pro-democracy protesters from wearing masks during rallies in a bid to curb the city’s escalating violence caused by months-long anti-government unrest. Pictured, masked protesters march in the street on Friday as they take part in a rally held to show opposition to the new rule announced by the Lam at a press conference
Chief executive Lam has used sweeping security legislation which has not been invoked since Hong Kong riots in 1967, allowing her to bypass the city’s legislature. Pictured, anti-government protesters block a street to oppose to the ban
A combo picture shows protesters wearing face masks during pro-democracy protests which started at the beginning of June
An anti-government protester wearing a mask attends a lunch time protest after local media reported on the expected ban
A woman wearing a Guy Fawkes mask joins people taking part in a protest against a potential government ban on protesters wearing face masks in Hong Kong on October 4. Many activists wear face masks to hide their identities and avoid tear gas
This is the first time the Hong Kong government has invoked colonial-era emergency powers in more than 50 years. The law, a relic of British rule enacted in 1922 to quell a seamen’s strike which was last used to crush riots in 1967. Pictured, a woman wearing a face mask raises her hand as she joins other demonstrators in a march against the rumoured ban on October 4
Pro-democracy demonstrators march from Chater Garden during a protest against a potential government ban on October 4
Lam decried the recent escalation of violence at a press conference (pictured) after clashes erupted across the city this week
Many demonstrators wear face masks to hide their identities and shield themselves from tear gas which has been regular occurrences on the street across the city.
The Hong Kong government is taking a tougher stance over the territory’s most disruptive crisis since it reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.
The unrest escalated this week after a student protester was shot in the chest with a live round by police and later charged with rioting and assaulting an officer.
Lam decried the recent escalation of violence at a press conference this afternoon.
‘People are asking can Hong Kong go back to normal? Is Hong Kong still a place where we can have our sweet home?’ Lam asked as she announced the ban.
She said the ban targeted violent protesters and rioters and ‘will be an effective deterrent to radical behavior’.
The mask ban applies to people at ‘illegal’ gatherings who use violence and exempts those who wear masks for ‘legitimate need’. Lam said she would go to the legislature later to get legal backing for the rule.
The mask ban marks a dramatic toughening in the government’s response to the most serious crisis to affect the hub for international trade and business since the territory reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997. Pictured, pro-democracy protesters march on a street as they take part in a rally in Central district on October 4 before the decision is announced
The ban applies to people at ‘illegal’ gatherings who use violence and exempts those who wear masks for ‘legitimate need’. Pictured, pro-democracy protesters march on a street as they take part in a rally in Central district on October 4
Activists in Hong Kong will no longer be able to conceal their identity with masks. Pictured, a student wears a helmet with writings reading ‘Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time’ during a demonstration in Hong Kong on September 9
Police will have the power to ask a person to remove their masks and those who resist can be sentenced for up to six months
The city’s Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-Chiu said the mask ban would carry a jail sentence for up to a one year or a fine.
He said protesters would also be prohibited from painting their faces to hide their identity.
He added police would have the power to ask a person to remove their masks and those who resist can be sentenced for up to six months.
Yesterday, local media reported that Lam planned to bypass the legislature to announce the mask ban under emergency powers to quash four months of anti-government demonstrations.
Thousands of people, all wearing masks, chanted slogans calling for greater democracy as they marched in the city’s business district during lunch time ahead of Lam’s press conference.
One protester told reporters: ‘Will they arrest 100,000 people on the street? The government is trying to intimidate us but at this moment, I don’t think the people will be scared.’
Masked protesters chant slogans calling for greater democracy as they marched in the city’s business district on October 4
Protesters hold up their hands to represent their movement’s five demands as they oppose to the city’s plan to ban masks
One protester holds a sign that reads ‘Hong kong is the land of the brave and we are braaaaaave’ at a demonstration on Friday
Analysts have warn the use of the Emergency Ordinance for the first time in more than half a century could set a dangerous precedent. Pictured, anti-government office workers wearing masks attend a lunch time protest in Hong Kong’s Central
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam (front, middle) announced the decision at a press conference with other city officials
Analysts have warned that the use of the Emergency Ordinance for the first time in more than half a century could set a dangerous precedent.
Activists and many legislators have also warned the face mask ban could be counter-productive, impractical and difficult to enforce in a city bubbling with anger and where tens of thousands have often defied police bans on rallies to take to the streets.
Willy Lam, adjunct professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said: ‘Even though the mask ban is just a small move under the Emergency Ordinance, it is a dangerous first step.
‘If the anti-mask legislation proves to be ineffective, it could lead the way to more draconian measures such as a curfew and other infringement of civil liberties.’
The ban was passed under a colonial-era emergency law known as The Emergency Regulations Ordinance.
The law, a relic of British rule enacted in 1922 to quell a seamen’s strike which was last used to crush riots in 1967, gives broad powers to the city’s chief executive to implement regulations in an emergency.
The demonstrations in Hong Kong were initially sparked at the beginning of June by a proposed law that would allow some criminal suspects to be sent to the mainland China to stand trial. It has since snowballed into a wider democratic movement. Pictured, pro-democracy demonstrators hold up their hands to symbolise their five demands during a protest on October 4
The unrest has turned into an anti-China campaign amid anger over what many view as Beijing’s interference in Hong Kong. Pictured, anti-government office workers wearing masks attend a lunch time protest in the Central district on October 4
The government last month withdrew the extradition bill, widely slammed as an example of the erosion of Hong Kong´s freedom, but protesters have widened their demands. Pictured, masked protesters carrying American flag march in the street
‘Five demands, not one less!’ many protesters shouted during Friday’s rallies. Picture, anti-government office workers wearing masks attend a lunch time protest, after local media reported on an expected ban on face masks on October 4
Activists and many legislators have said the mask ban could be counterproductive, impractical and difficult to enforce in a city bubbling with anger and where tens of thousands have often defied police bans on rallies and taken to the street
The ban followed widespread violence in the city on Tuesday which marred China’s National Day and included a police officer shooting a protester. Pictured, gesture five demands at a rally which include democratic reforms for the city’s government
The ban follows widespread violence in the city which marred China’s National Day and included a police officer shooting a protester, the first victim of gunfire since the protests started in June over a now-shelved extradition bill.
Tsang Chi-kin, 18, was shot at close range as he fought an officer with a pole on Tuesday in Tsuen Wan on one of the most violent days of Hong Kong’s months-long protests.
Police defended the officer’s decision, calling it ‘reasonable and lawful’. A spokesperson said the officer was facing ‘imminent danger’ at the time.
Tsang has undergone surgery. According to his lawyer, he is in a hospital intensive care unit in a stable condition.
He has been charged with attacking police and rioting. The latter carries a maximum 10-year sentence.
It has been revealed that the city’s police loosened guidelines on the use of force by officers in the run-up to demonstrations on October 1.
Social media footage captures the moment Tsang (left) was shot by a policeman during a fight in Tsuen Wan on Tuesday
The teen was shot in the chest by a police officer whose unit had been attacked by demonstrators, said a police spokesperson
Thousands of people have taken to the street to voice their anger at police and the government after the shooting. Pictured, demonstrators donning the Guy Fawkes masks wave Britain’s Union Flags during a rally to support the teenage on October 2
Protesters throw petrol bombs outside the police station of Tsuen Wan where the student was shot during a rally on October 2
One female protester holds a poster that reads ‘Don’t shoot our kids’ to denounce the policeman’s decision to open fire
Hong Kong residents raise their arms as they gather in their hundreds to condemn the police in Tsuen Wan on October 2
The teenage protester was throwing bricks and ‘rioting’ at the time he was wounded, a prosecutor told a court packed with his supporters on Friday.
The prosecutor said Tsang was more violent than others who have attended recent rallies.
A judge set bail at HK$5000 ($640) and banned Tsang from leaving the country.
After the hearing, hundreds of supporters, some crying, clapped and chanted ‘thank you’ to the lawyer who represented him. They also opened umbrellas to form a tunnel outside the court to shield the identity of other arrested protesters who appeared in court.
Cecilia Ng, 53, said young people had sacrificed themselves to stop government wrongdoing.
‘Yes, they destroy things. But it was completely not necessary to shoot them,’ she said. ‘The point is that the government taught us that peaceful protest can never work. Now, the government pushes another evil law. Our city is on edge. Our teenagers are also on edge.’
Many of those gathered in the court and outside were wearing masks, in defiance of an expected government ban on the wearing of face-masks in public – as many protesters do to disguise their identities. The ban was announced a short while later.
The case was been adjourned until November 14.
What is happening in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong protesters are demanding democratic reforms and the complete withdraw of a law bill that would allow criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China to stand trial. Protesters are pictured waving their phones in a demonstration on August 28
Hong Kong has been rocked by a series of anti-government protests for nearly four months.
The demonstrations were initially sparked by a proposed law that would allow some criminal suspects to be sent to the mainland China to stand trial.
Hong Kong is ruled under the ‘one country, two system’ policy and has different legal and governing systems to mainland China.
The principle was agreed upon by China and the UK before the former British colony reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.
However, many residents in the semi-autonomous city feel that their freedoms are eroding due to the tight political grip of Beijing.
The extradition bill was suspended indefinitely by the government in June, but the rallies have morphed into a wider pro-democracy movement that calls for government reforms and universal suffrage, among others.
Protesters are also demanding an independent inquiry into what they view as excessive violence from the police during clashes.
Mass rallies, sometimes attended by as many as two million people, have taken place every weekend since June 9.
Protesters have targeted government buildings, Beijing’s representative office in Hong Kong, shopping centres and international airport to express their demands.
The demonstrations often start with a peaceful march or sit-in and end up in violent clashes between activists and police.
A repeated pattern sees activists throwing items such as bricks and petrol bombs at the police and anti-riot officers firing tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds.
More than 1,750 people have been detained so far in connection to the unrest.
Beijing has described the situation in Hong Kong the ‘worst crisis’ the city has seen since its handover in 1997. It has also called some activists ‘rioters’ and ‘political terrorists’.
The city’s chief executive Carrie Lam on September 4 promised to formally withdraw the extradition bill, but the move failed to ease the chaos.
She is yet to satisfy the protesters’ other demands.