Hong Kong leader uses colonial-era emergency law to ban wearing masks at protests

Hong Kong leader uses colonial-era emergency law to ban wearing masks at protests

  Hong Kong's leader has invoked rarely-used emergency powers to ban people from wearing face masks during public assemblies, a move likely to infuriate the thousands of mainly young people involved in the months-long protest movement.

The ban will come into effect on October 5, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced at a press conference Friday, following a special meeting of her cabinet, the Executive Council.

In anticipation of the announcement, hundreds of people marched through Hong Kong's central business district in protest against the ban. More protests are planned for the evening.

Lam said the order to enact the "Prohibition On Face Covering Regulation" was a "necessary decision" but insisted it does not mean Hong Kong was in a state of emergency.

"We are now in a rather extensive and serious public danger. It is essential for us to stop violence and restore calm to society as soon as possible," she said. "We believe the new law will create a deterrent effect against masked protesters and rioters."

Lam said she won't set a date to nullify the anti-mask law.