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| Eerie Quiet Settles on Hong Kong as Face Mask Ban Takes Effect | Eerie Quiet Settles on Hong Kong as Face Mask Ban Takes Effect |
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| HONG KONG — With its subway system paralyzed and its shopping malls shuttered during a prime holiday weekend, Hong Kong was eerily quiet on Saturday as the city and its seven million residents took a breather from a night of unrest that erupted after the authorities imposed a ban on face masks during protests. | HONG KONG — With its subway system paralyzed and its shopping malls shuttered during a prime holiday weekend, Hong Kong was eerily quiet on Saturday as the city and its seven million residents took a breather from a night of unrest that erupted after the authorities imposed a ban on face masks during protests. |
| Although a few hundred protesters gathered in central Hong Kong, most of the city was calm. People remained close to home, and an earlier call for mass gatherings evaporated after it became apparent that moving about the city would be difficult. | Although a few hundred protesters gathered in central Hong Kong, most of the city was calm. People remained close to home, and an earlier call for mass gatherings evaporated after it became apparent that moving about the city would be difficult. |
| But the unexpected tranquillity masked a palpable sense of dread following the decision on Friday by Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, to invoke colonial-era emergency powers to bar protesters from concealing their identities with masks. | But the unexpected tranquillity masked a palpable sense of dread following the decision on Friday by Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, to invoke colonial-era emergency powers to bar protesters from concealing their identities with masks. |
| Many people derided the measure as misguided and said it would be ineffective, but they also viewed it as another step in the erosion of the civil liberties that have differentiated this semiautonomous territory from the rest of China. | Many people derided the measure as misguided and said it would be ineffective, but they also viewed it as another step in the erosion of the civil liberties that have differentiated this semiautonomous territory from the rest of China. |
| Like many of those marching through the streets of the city’s Wan Chai neighborhood on Saturday afternoon, Clare Fok, a 43-year-old cosmetics sales clerk, made a point of concealing her face. | Like many of those marching through the streets of the city’s Wan Chai neighborhood on Saturday afternoon, Clare Fok, a 43-year-old cosmetics sales clerk, made a point of concealing her face. |
| “I’ve never worn masks to marches before because they’re stuffy and I look good,” Ms. Fok said through a gray face mask, with a pair of aviator sunglasses hiding her eyes. “We are deliberately wearing masks today because we can’t accept the ban. They’re taking away our freedoms and we won’t just obey because they’re telling us to.” | “I’ve never worn masks to marches before because they’re stuffy and I look good,” Ms. Fok said through a gray face mask, with a pair of aviator sunglasses hiding her eyes. “We are deliberately wearing masks today because we can’t accept the ban. They’re taking away our freedoms and we won’t just obey because they’re telling us to.” |
| During the monthslong protests, street clashes between antigovernment protesters and the police have steadily grown more combative and dangerous. In announcing the ban on masks on Friday, Mrs. Lam said her government had a duty to stop the escalating violence and restore order. | During the monthslong protests, street clashes between antigovernment protesters and the police have steadily grown more combative and dangerous. In announcing the ban on masks on Friday, Mrs. Lam said her government had a duty to stop the escalating violence and restore order. |
| But the move, which took effect one minute after midnight on Saturday, quickly became a new rallying point for the protesters and set off an especially violent wave of demonstrations across the city. | But the move, which took effect one minute after midnight on Saturday, quickly became a new rallying point for the protesters and set off an especially violent wave of demonstrations across the city. |
| On Friday night, the protesters smashed windows and set fires at subway stations and at stores they considered to be supportive of the government. A 14-year-old boy was hit in the leg by a gunshot and the authorities said on Saturday that his condition was stable. | On Friday night, the protesters smashed windows and set fires at subway stations and at stores they considered to be supportive of the government. A 14-year-old boy was hit in the leg by a gunshot and the authorities said on Saturday that his condition was stable. |
| The police said separately that a plainclothes officer had fired a shot in self-defense on Friday. But as of Saturday afternoon, it was unclear whether the officer had shot the boy, as many protesters assumed. | The police said separately that a plainclothes officer had fired a shot in self-defense on Friday. But as of Saturday afternoon, it was unclear whether the officer had shot the boy, as many protesters assumed. |
| In a televised statement on Saturday, Mrs. Lam asserted again that invoking emergency powers was necessary because the territory was facing an unprecedented level of violence, and pointed to the protesters who had thrown gasoline bombs at police officers on Friday night as evidence of that threat. | |
| “The rioters’ extreme acts have led to a very dark night, half-paralyzing Hong Kong society today,” Mrs. Lam said in a videotaped recording that showed her standing with a group of officials. “Everyone is very worried, concerned and even horrified.” | “The rioters’ extreme acts have led to a very dark night, half-paralyzing Hong Kong society today,” Mrs. Lam said in a videotaped recording that showed her standing with a group of officials. “Everyone is very worried, concerned and even horrified.” |
| Mrs. Lam’s government hopes that invoking its emergency powers to enact the ban — which can be enforced by fines and jail time — will dampen turnout at pro-democracy street demonstrations where protesters typically wear masks to hide their identities and guard against tear gas. | Mrs. Lam’s government hopes that invoking its emergency powers to enact the ban — which can be enforced by fines and jail time — will dampen turnout at pro-democracy street demonstrations where protesters typically wear masks to hide their identities and guard against tear gas. |
| Mrs. Lam said that her government had the “greatest determination to put a stop to the violence” and urged the public to condemn the unrest. “We cannot tolerate rioters destroying the Hong Kong we cherish.” | Mrs. Lam said that her government had the “greatest determination to put a stop to the violence” and urged the public to condemn the unrest. “We cannot tolerate rioters destroying the Hong Kong we cherish.” |
| Friday’s violence and chaos prompted the authorities to shut down the entire subway system two hours earlier than normal. That the system was still closed as of early Saturday afternoon marked an exceedingly rare development in a global financial hub known for its efficient public transportation. | Friday’s violence and chaos prompted the authorities to shut down the entire subway system two hours earlier than normal. That the system was still closed as of early Saturday afternoon marked an exceedingly rare development in a global financial hub known for its efficient public transportation. |
| Many businesses were also closed across the city on Saturday, including several major malls and all but one branch of Bank of China. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said that some bank branches had closed on account of vandalism and arson, and the police warned the public in a text message that “unauthorized public events expected in coming days may cause severe disruptions.” | Many businesses were also closed across the city on Saturday, including several major malls and all but one branch of Bank of China. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said that some bank branches had closed on account of vandalism and arson, and the police warned the public in a text message that “unauthorized public events expected in coming days may cause severe disruptions.” |
| Some protesters were planning to defy the new ban by gathering with masks in the streets over the weekend, although their exact plans were unclear as of early Saturday afternoon. | Some protesters were planning to defy the new ban by gathering with masks in the streets over the weekend, although their exact plans were unclear as of early Saturday afternoon. |
| “The ban is not addressing the problem; it’s trying to get rid of the people who are trying to speak out about it,” said Castor Lau, 29, who joined a protest on Friday in the Causeway Bay shopping district. “But Hong Kongers won’t be deterred from protests. We can’t let oppression govern our behavior.” | “The ban is not addressing the problem; it’s trying to get rid of the people who are trying to speak out about it,” said Castor Lau, 29, who joined a protest on Friday in the Causeway Bay shopping district. “But Hong Kongers won’t be deterred from protests. We can’t let oppression govern our behavior.” |
| On Friday, Mrs. Lam said she was acting under a rarely used provision in the territory’s colonial-era law that allows the issuance of regulations in response to “a state of serious danger.” She emphasized repeatedly at a news conference that she was not declaring an emergency. | On Friday, Mrs. Lam said she was acting under a rarely used provision in the territory’s colonial-era law that allows the issuance of regulations in response to “a state of serious danger.” She emphasized repeatedly at a news conference that she was not declaring an emergency. |
| But by any measure, her decision to invoke the so-called Emergency Regulations Ordinance is rare and unusual. The law was last used during the pro-Communist riots that broke out in British-ruled Hong Kong in 1967, leaving more than 50 people dead. | But by any measure, her decision to invoke the so-called Emergency Regulations Ordinance is rare and unusual. The law was last used during the pro-Communist riots that broke out in British-ruled Hong Kong in 1967, leaving more than 50 people dead. |
| So far, no one has died on the streets since the latest protests started in early June. But flashing ambulance lights have become a common sight on the fringes of street clashes between protesters and police officers in riot gear. | So far, no one has died on the streets since the latest protests started in early June. But flashing ambulance lights have become a common sight on the fringes of street clashes between protesters and police officers in riot gear. |
| During a violent round of protests across the city on Tuesday, a protester was shot by a police officer for the first time since the protests began and taken to a hospital in critical condition. His condition later stabilized after emergency surgery. | During a violent round of protests across the city on Tuesday, a protester was shot by a police officer for the first time since the protests began and taken to a hospital in critical condition. His condition later stabilized after emergency surgery. |
| Ezra Cheung, Keith Bradsher and Andrew Jacobs contributed reporting. | Ezra Cheung, Keith Bradsher and Andrew Jacobs contributed reporting. |