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| Hong Kong: Face mask ban prompts thousands to protest | Hong Kong: Face mask ban prompts thousands to protest |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Thousands have joined unplanned protests in Hong Kong after the territory's government announced a face mask ban, which came into effect at midnight (16:00 GMT). | Thousands have joined unplanned protests in Hong Kong after the territory's government announced a face mask ban, which came into effect at midnight (16:00 GMT). |
| Chief executive Carrie Lam invoked a colonial-era emergency law in a bid to quell months of anti-government unrest. | Chief executive Carrie Lam invoked a colonial-era emergency law in a bid to quell months of anti-government unrest. |
| The ban comes after an escalation of violence during protests on 1 October, when an officer shot a demonstrator. | The ban comes after an escalation of violence during protests on 1 October, when an officer shot a demonstrator. |
| Reports on Friday said a 14-year-old had been shot in the leg. | Reports on Friday said a 14-year-old had been shot in the leg. |
| He is reportedly being treated at Tuen Mun hospital and is in a serious condition. | |
| A police statement published by the South China Morning Post confirmed an officer "fired one shot as his life was under serious threat" after being attacked by a large group of protesters - although it does not say anyone was hit. | |
| Protesters erupted immediately after the ban was announced. | Protesters erupted immediately after the ban was announced. |
| Many left work early to join the spontaneous demonstrations. Some furious protesters blocked roads, torched Chinese flags and vandalised stations and businesses, as police fired rounds of tear gas. | Many left work early to join the spontaneous demonstrations. Some furious protesters blocked roads, torched Chinese flags and vandalised stations and businesses, as police fired rounds of tear gas. |
| The territory's Mass Transit Railway (MTR) announced a full service suspension of all trains. A spokesman told the BBC this was due to vandalism and attacks on staff. | The territory's Mass Transit Railway (MTR) announced a full service suspension of all trains. A spokesman told the BBC this was due to vandalism and attacks on staff. |
| Mask-wearing activists had also earlier called on others to wear masks in defiance of the government, which critics fear is becoming increasingly authoritarian. | Mask-wearing activists had also earlier called on others to wear masks in defiance of the government, which critics fear is becoming increasingly authoritarian. |
| Ms Lam said she was forced to implement the colonial-era law because violence at the now-weekly protests was "destroying the city", and she could not allow the situation "to get worse and worse". | Ms Lam said she was forced to implement the colonial-era law because violence at the now-weekly protests was "destroying the city", and she could not allow the situation "to get worse and worse". |
| The end of anonymity | The end of anonymity |
| Danny Vincent, BBC News, Hong Kong | Danny Vincent, BBC News, Hong Kong |
| Angry protesters chanted as they marched through the heart of this financial hub. They ripped down a banner marking 70 years of communist rule, setting it alight in front of a cheering crowd. | Angry protesters chanted as they marched through the heart of this financial hub. They ripped down a banner marking 70 years of communist rule, setting it alight in front of a cheering crowd. |
| Hundreds wore masks in defiance of the ban. | Hundreds wore masks in defiance of the ban. |
| Today will be the last time demonstrators can hide their faces legally. Anonymity has become a key part of this movement but many fear that the introduction of this emergency law could lead to further restrictions. | Today will be the last time demonstrators can hide their faces legally. Anonymity has become a key part of this movement but many fear that the introduction of this emergency law could lead to further restrictions. |
| This protest movement began in opposition to an extradition bill now withdrawn from the legislature. The use of the emergency law did not need to go through the legislative body. | This protest movement began in opposition to an extradition bill now withdrawn from the legislature. The use of the emergency law did not need to go through the legislative body. |
| Carrie Lam insists that the territory is not in a state of emergency, but the law allows her to take further emergency measures. | Carrie Lam insists that the territory is not in a state of emergency, but the law allows her to take further emergency measures. |
| What's been the reaction to the ban? | What's been the reaction to the ban? |
| Observers say the regulation will be hard to enforce and hugely controversial: critics have warned the mask ban could be the first in a series of "draconian" measures. | Observers say the regulation will be hard to enforce and hugely controversial: critics have warned the mask ban could be the first in a series of "draconian" measures. |
| "This is a watershed. This is a Rubicon," pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo told news agency AFP. "And I'm worried this could be just a starter. More draconian bans in the name of law could be lurking around the corner." | "This is a watershed. This is a Rubicon," pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo told news agency AFP. "And I'm worried this could be just a starter. More draconian bans in the name of law could be lurking around the corner." |
| The announcement has also prompted reaction from further afield, with Marta Hurtado, the United Nations human rights spokeswoman, noting at a news conference in Geneva that "any restriction must have a basis in law and be proportionate and as least intrusive as possible". | The announcement has also prompted reaction from further afield, with Marta Hurtado, the United Nations human rights spokeswoman, noting at a news conference in Geneva that "any restriction must have a basis in law and be proportionate and as least intrusive as possible". |
| UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, meanwhile, has said "political dialogue is the only way to resolve the situation". | UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, meanwhile, has said "political dialogue is the only way to resolve the situation". |
| Where does the ban apply? | Where does the ban apply? |
| The ban will apply for approved and unapproved public assemblies - rallies and marches - as well as in unlawful assemblies and riots. | The ban will apply for approved and unapproved public assemblies - rallies and marches - as well as in unlawful assemblies and riots. |
| The ban covers all kinds of facial covering, including face paint. Protesters have increasingly worn masks for a number of reasons, including to conceal their identities - from employers, parents and, in some cases, police - and to protect themselves from tear gas. | The ban covers all kinds of facial covering, including face paint. Protesters have increasingly worn masks for a number of reasons, including to conceal their identities - from employers, parents and, in some cases, police - and to protect themselves from tear gas. |
| There are exemptions for people wearing masks for health reasons, or if required by their profession. | There are exemptions for people wearing masks for health reasons, or if required by their profession. |
| Ms Lam said "violence had been escalating to alarming levels" leading to a situation of "chaos and panic" in the city. | Ms Lam said "violence had been escalating to alarming levels" leading to a situation of "chaos and panic" in the city. |
| What is the Emergency Regulations Ordinance? | What is the Emergency Regulations Ordinance? |
| The legislation invoked by Ms Lam, called the Emergency Regulations Ordinance, dates to 1922 and has not been used in more than 50 years. | The legislation invoked by Ms Lam, called the Emergency Regulations Ordinance, dates to 1922 and has not been used in more than 50 years. |
| It enables the chief executive to bypass the normal legislative process, where bills have to go through the city's parliament, the Legislative Council. | It enables the chief executive to bypass the normal legislative process, where bills have to go through the city's parliament, the Legislative Council. |
| The ERO was last used in 1967 to help stop riots in the territory's trading hub. | The ERO was last used in 1967 to help stop riots in the territory's trading hub. |
| Ms Lam stressed the new regulation did not mean that Hong Kong was in a state of emergency. But she said the city was "in a state of serious public danger". | Ms Lam stressed the new regulation did not mean that Hong Kong was in a state of emergency. But she said the city was "in a state of serious public danger". |
| What is the background? | What is the background? |
| Hong Kong's protests started in June, sparked by proposals to extradite suspected criminals to mainland China. | Hong Kong's protests started in June, sparked by proposals to extradite suspected criminals to mainland China. |
| The extradition bill has since been cancelled but protests have widened into pro-democracy and anti-police demonstrations. | The extradition bill has since been cancelled but protests have widened into pro-democracy and anti-police demonstrations. |
| Over the months, clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent. On Tuesday, police shot a protester in the chest with a live bullet for the first time. | Over the months, clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent. On Tuesday, police shot a protester in the chest with a live bullet for the first time. |
| Authorities say the 18-year-old - who was attacking police and was arrested after being shot - is in a stable condition in hospital. | Authorities say the 18-year-old - who was attacking police and was arrested after being shot - is in a stable condition in hospital. |
| Hong Kong is a former British colony handed back to China in 1997. | Hong Kong is a former British colony handed back to China in 1997. |
| It has a "one country, two systems" agreement that guarantees it some autonomy, and its people certain freedoms, including freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. | It has a "one country, two systems" agreement that guarantees it some autonomy, and its people certain freedoms, including freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. |
| But those freedoms - the Basic Law - expire in 2047 and it is not clear what Hong Kong's status will then be. | But those freedoms - the Basic Law - expire in 2047 and it is not clear what Hong Kong's status will then be. |