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Hong Kong Leader Invokes Emergency Powers to Ban Masks During Protests Hong Kong Leader Invokes Emergency Powers to Ban Masks During Protests
(about 1 hour later)
HONG KONG — As the Hong Kong government tries to quell increasingly violent protests, its embattled leader on Friday invoked emergency powers to ban face masks, deploying a rarely used law that could inflame tensions and tar the city’s reputation as a safe, open hub for finance and tourism. HONG KONG — As the Hong Kong government tries to quell increasingly violent protests, its embattled leader on Friday invoked emergency powers to ban face masks, deploying a rarely used law that could inflame tensions and erode confidence in a city that depends heavily on international business and tourism.
The decision by the city’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, reflects the growing intensity of the monthslong movement and the pressure the government faces to take action. The decision by the city’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, reflects the growing intensity of the monthslong movement and the mounting pressure the government faces to take action.
Earlier this week, tens of thousands of protesters spread out across the city in mass demonstrations designed to overshadow a politically sensitive anniversary in China. The protests quickly turned into violent clashes, including the shooting of an 18-year-old student by a police officer.Earlier this week, tens of thousands of protesters spread out across the city in mass demonstrations designed to overshadow a politically sensitive anniversary in China. The protests quickly turned into violent clashes, including the shooting of an 18-year-old student by a police officer.
But the decision by Mrs. Lam could backfire by provoking further concern about government encroachment on the civil freedoms enjoyed in Hong Kong and Beijing’s influence over the city. But the decision by Mrs. Lam could backfire by provoking further concern about government encroachment on the civil freedoms enjoyed in Hong Kong and Beijing’s influence over the semiautonomous region.
By Friday evening, thousands of people, many of them wearing masks, had swarmed the city’s Central business district and other areas, chanting antigovernment slogans and waiting as the clock ticked toward midnight.
While the ban could keep more peaceful protesters off the streets, it could also incite a combative core of protesters and prompt more confrontations. Any uptick in violence could add to the strain on the local economy, as the protests have deterred overseas tourists, mainland shoppers and business travelers.While the ban could keep more peaceful protesters off the streets, it could also incite a combative core of protesters and prompt more confrontations. Any uptick in violence could add to the strain on the local economy, as the protests have deterred overseas tourists, mainland shoppers and business travelers.
Mrs. Lam emphasized repeatedly at a news conference that she was not declaring an emergency, but was acting under a provision in the territory’s colonial-era law that allows the issuance of regulations in response to “a state of serious danger.”Mrs. Lam emphasized repeatedly at a news conference that she was not declaring an emergency, but was acting under a provision in the territory’s colonial-era law that allows the issuance of regulations in response to “a state of serious danger.”
“We are particularly concerned that many students are participating” in violent protests, “jeopardizing their safety and even their future,” she said. “As a responsible government, we have a duty to use all available means to stop the escalating violence and restore calmness in society.”“We are particularly concerned that many students are participating” in violent protests, “jeopardizing their safety and even their future,” she said. “As a responsible government, we have a duty to use all available means to stop the escalating violence and restore calmness in society.”
The ban on face masks, which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, will be punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine. It will apply to all public gatherings. The ban on face masks, which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, will be punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine. It will apply to all public gatherings. But enforcing the ban could prove difficult given their near ubiquity in the movement. Face masks are a common feature among the crowds of protesters, both for security and safety.
Face masks are a common feature of the protests, both for security and safety. Many protesters wear gas masks and respirators, as do first aid responders and journalists, to protect themselves from tear gas that the police deploy to disperse crowds that engage in violence. Some wear them to protect their identity, fearful they will be captured in photos and by surveillance equipment, then targeted for retaliation. Many protesters wear gas masks and respirators, as do first aid responders and journalists, to protect themselves from tear gas that the police deploy to disperse crowds that engage in violence. Some wear them to protect their identity, fearful they will be captured in photos and by surveillance equipment, then targeted for retaliation.
Few people attend mass gatherings without one, even during peaceful marches and demonstrations. When Mrs. Lam held her first town hall with residents last week, many members of the audience who confronted her with difficult questions wore masks.Few people attend mass gatherings without one, even during peaceful marches and demonstrations. When Mrs. Lam held her first town hall with residents last week, many members of the audience who confronted her with difficult questions wore masks.
Beyond the protests, face masks are regularly seen in Hong Kong, worn by people worried about spreading germs, especially since the 2003 SARS epidemic. Residents also use them on particularly polluted days. But the face masks, and the anonymity they provide, have given cover to more violent protesters, who have beaten police officers and vandalized property. Undercover police officers have also used masks to disguise themselves as protesters and make arrests.
As word of the ban spread on Friday during lunchtime, hundreds of people, many wearing face masks, blocked a major road in downtown Hong Kong. They chanted antigovernment slogans, saying it was “unreasonable legislation” and “covering faces is not a crime.” Some called for Ms. Lam to change course and disband the police.As word of the ban spread on Friday during lunchtime, hundreds of people, many wearing face masks, blocked a major road in downtown Hong Kong. They chanted antigovernment slogans, saying it was “unreasonable legislation” and “covering faces is not a crime.” Some called for Ms. Lam to change course and disband the police.
“This ban is ridiculous,” said Wilson Lee, a 29-year-old paralegal. “It just shows the government’s incompetence and refusal to listen to any of our concerns. They are just making things worse.”“This ban is ridiculous,” said Wilson Lee, a 29-year-old paralegal. “It just shows the government’s incompetence and refusal to listen to any of our concerns. They are just making things worse.”
After the ban was announced, the city began to prepare for more unrest. Shopping malls and stores closed. Companies, including the global bank HSBC, let workers out early.After the ban was announced, the city began to prepare for more unrest. Shopping malls and stores closed. Companies, including the global bank HSBC, let workers out early.
Barricades were erected on major roads by protesters, using road signs, trash bins, rocks and traffic cones. Two major demonstrations were planned on Friday night, organized spontaneously in response to the ban.Barricades were erected on major roads by protesters, using road signs, trash bins, rocks and traffic cones. Two major demonstrations were planned on Friday night, organized spontaneously in response to the ban.
“People are going to defy the government, then there will be mass arrests,” Eason Wong, a 27-year-old who works in downtown Hong Kong, said as he chanted along with the emerging crowd in the area. “I have no words for this kind of idiotic moves.” “People are going to defy the government, then there will be mass arrests,” Eason Wong, a 27-year-old who works in downtown Hong Kong, said as he chanted along with the emerging crowd in the area. “I have no words for this kind of idiotic moves.”
Mrs. Lam’s use of emergency powers, a colonial-era law that has not been used in decades, suggests that the government and the police force may have run out of ways to restore order without limiting some civic freedoms.Mrs. Lam’s use of emergency powers, a colonial-era law that has not been used in decades, suggests that the government and the police force may have run out of ways to restore order without limiting some civic freedoms.
The law, the so-called Emergency Regulations Ordinance, offers the chief executive extensive legal authority to pass rules without having to go through the legislature. It was last used during deadly riots in 1967, when pro-Communist protesters railed against the British government that oversaw the city. The law, the so-called Emergency Regulations Ordinance, offers the chief executive extensive legal authority to pass rules without having to go through the legislature. It was last used during deadly riots in 1967, when pro-Communist protesters railed against the British government that oversaw the city. Back then, the authorities used the law to suspend the publication of some leftist newspapers and hold dozens of radicals for months without charges at a special prison in the southwest.
Ms. Lam’s government has been debating whether to take such an extraordinary step for weeks, concerned about the message it sends to the city and the world. The face mask ban could hurt the government’s efforts to persuade Hong Kong’s public, tourists and the international business community that the city is generally safe, a reputation that had made Hong Kong one of the major financial capitals of the world.Ms. Lam’s government has been debating whether to take such an extraordinary step for weeks, concerned about the message it sends to the city and the world. The face mask ban could hurt the government’s efforts to persuade Hong Kong’s public, tourists and the international business community that the city is generally safe, a reputation that had made Hong Kong one of the major financial capitals of the world.
Ronny Tong, a member of the Executive Council, the top advisory body to the chief executive, said on Thursday that he had been wary of invoking the emergency regulations because he feared the stigma it would bring to Hong Kong. But he said he would “reluctantly endorse” a face mask ban as an alternative to a general curfew, an idea recently suggested by some pro-Beijing hard-liners.Ronny Tong, a member of the Executive Council, the top advisory body to the chief executive, said on Thursday that he had been wary of invoking the emergency regulations because he feared the stigma it would bring to Hong Kong. But he said he would “reluctantly endorse” a face mask ban as an alternative to a general curfew, an idea recently suggested by some pro-Beijing hard-liners.
Enforcement could be difficult. France has such a ban, but it has not prevented many so-called yellow vest protesters from wearing them anyway. Lawmakers, too, debated the efficacy of such rules, pointing to other countries’ experiences. France has such a ban, but it has not prevented many so-called yellow vest protesters from wearing them anyway.
“The government has been weighing the pros and cons, and those who are against it argue it wouldn’t help much,” said Jasper Tsang, the founder of the biggest pro-Beijing political party and the president of the legislature until 2016.“The government has been weighing the pros and cons, and those who are against it argue it wouldn’t help much,” said Jasper Tsang, the founder of the biggest pro-Beijing political party and the president of the legislature until 2016.
Although the government was deeply split on the issue, Mr. Tsang said that the escalation of violence on Tuesday, including the first police shooting of a protester, left the authorities reconsidering every option.Although the government was deeply split on the issue, Mr. Tsang said that the escalation of violence on Tuesday, including the first police shooting of a protester, left the authorities reconsidering every option.
“It appears we need more effective, more stringent measures,” he said.“It appears we need more effective, more stringent measures,” he said.
The ban is already stoking protesters’ worries about government infringement. Beijing said on Friday it supported Mrs. Lam’s decision to ban the masks, the state television network CCTV reported.
Yang Guang, a spokesman for China’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said the situation in Hong Kong had reached a critical moment and could not continue unabated.
Critics contend that the ban merely conceals a crackdown on the right to protest. Students have regularly worn masks while joining hands before school and during lunchtime. These so-called human chains are often covered by the local news media, and the masks provide anonymity to youngsters worried about repercussions.
“Political reasons should not be presented as something done on behalf of students,” Ip Kin-yuen, a pro-democracy lawmaker who represents the education sector said at a news conference on Friday.
The ban is already stoking protesters’ worries about wider erosions of privacy and personal freedoms.
The protests began this summer over opposition to a law that would have allowed extraditions to the mainland, where the courts are controlled by the Communist Party. The movement has since morphed into a broader call to protect Hong Kong’s autonomy, a special administrative region of China ruled through a policy known as “one country, two systems.”The protests began this summer over opposition to a law that would have allowed extraditions to the mainland, where the courts are controlled by the Communist Party. The movement has since morphed into a broader call to protect Hong Kong’s autonomy, a special administrative region of China ruled through a policy known as “one country, two systems.”
Under the longstanding emergency powers law, Mrs. Lam has wide discretion to issue new regulations — without having to go through the usual legislative process. Although the emergency law is not as powerful as it was back in 1967, Mrs. Lam has wide discretion to issue new regulations — without having to go through the usual legislative process.
Newspapers or websites could be censored or their distribution could be halted. Buildings could be entered and phones could be searched without warrants. Penalties up to life imprisonment could be imposed for offenses that typically carry much lighter sentences. s. A curfew could be set. Buildings could be entered and phones could be searched more easily without warrants. Penalties up to life imprisonment could be imposed for offenses that typically carry much lighter sentences.
Seemingly to undercut concerns about bypassing the regulatory process, the leadership is expected to send the law to the legislature, which has the power to block it. But the pro-Beijing majority is unlikely to do so.Seemingly to undercut concerns about bypassing the regulatory process, the leadership is expected to send the law to the legislature, which has the power to block it. But the pro-Beijing majority is unlikely to do so.
“For the international community, any kind of emergency powers will send warning bells,” said Simon Young, a professor at the University of Hong Kong Law School. “Although it may start out with an incremental measure, then nothing’s to stop another measure from being added, and further measures from being added.”“For the international community, any kind of emergency powers will send warning bells,” said Simon Young, a professor at the University of Hong Kong Law School. “Although it may start out with an incremental measure, then nothing’s to stop another measure from being added, and further measures from being added.”
“The only limit is you can’t have the death penalty,” Mr. Young said.“The only limit is you can’t have the death penalty,” Mr. Young said.
Reporting was contributed by Elaine Yu, Ezra Cheung, Javier Hernández and Katherine Li.Reporting was contributed by Elaine Yu, Ezra Cheung, Javier Hernández and Katherine Li.