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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 |
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| HONG KONG — As the government tries to quell increasingly violent protests, Hong Kong’s 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 an open hub for finance and tourism. | |
| The move by the city’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, which was confirmed by two people familiar with the decision, reflects the growing intensity of the monthslong movement and the pressure the government faces from Beijing to take action. | |
| Tens of thousands of people joined antigovernment protests on Oct. 1, China’s National Day, despite a police ban on demonstrations. In several districts across the territory, those protests quickly turned into violent clashes with the police, and included the shooting of an 18-year-old student demonstrator by an officer. | |
| Face masks have become 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. Some wear them to protect their identity. | |
| The ban on face masks will take effect at midnight Friday. It is unclear whether the ban will apply to all protests or just illegal gatherings. | |
| Demonstrations are planned on Friday night at shopping malls in all 18 of Hong Kong’s administrative districts, with demonstrators planning to sing “Glory to Hong Kong,” a new song that has become the informal anthem of the protest movement. | Demonstrations are planned on Friday night at shopping malls in all 18 of Hong Kong’s administrative districts, with demonstrators planning to sing “Glory to Hong Kong,” a new song that has become the informal anthem of the protest movement. |
| 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 any move to invoke the emergency regulations because he feared it would bring a stigma to Hong Kong internationally. 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 any move to invoke the emergency regulations because he feared it would bring a stigma to Hong Kong internationally. 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. |
| Jasper Tsang, the founder of the biggest pro-Beijing political party and the president of the legislature until 2016, said that there had been deep divisions at the highest levels of the Hong Kong government for many weeks on whether to go ahead with the ban. | Jasper Tsang, the founder of the biggest pro-Beijing political party and the president of the legislature until 2016, said that there had been deep divisions at the highest levels of the Hong Kong government for many weeks on whether to go ahead with the ban. |
| “The government has been weighing the pros and cons, and those who are against it argue it wouldn’t help much,” he said, while adding that advocates for the idea saw it as a possible way to curb violence. | “The government has been weighing the pros and cons, and those who are against it argue it wouldn’t help much,” he said, while adding that advocates for the idea saw it as a possible way to curb violence. |
| Opponents of a face mask ban made two arguments, Mr. Tsang said. One was that it could be hard to enforce. France has such a ban, but it has not prevented many so-called yellow vest protesters from wearing them anyway. | Opponents of a face mask ban made two arguments, Mr. Tsang said. One was that it could be hard to enforce. France has such a ban, but it has not prevented many so-called yellow vest protesters from wearing them anyway. |
| Imposing a face mask ban could also hurt the government’s effort to persuade Hong Kong’s public, its tourists and the international business community that most of the city is safe most of the time, he said. | Imposing a face mask ban could also hurt the government’s effort to persuade Hong Kong’s public, its tourists and the international business community that most of the city is safe most of the time, he said. |
| But while the government was deeply split on the issue through Tuesday, the escalation of violence on Tuesday night, including the first police shooting of a protester, left the authorities reconsidering every option, Mr. Tsang said. | But while the government was deeply split on the issue through Tuesday, the escalation of violence on Tuesday night, including the first police shooting of a protester, left the authorities reconsidering every option, Mr. Tsang said. |
| “It appears we need more effective, more stringent measures,” he said. | “It appears we need more effective, more stringent measures,” he said. |
| As word of the possible ban spread on Thursday, masked student protesters said in interviews on Thursday afternoon that they would defy the ban. | As word of the possible ban spread on Thursday, masked student protesters said in interviews on Thursday afternoon that they would defy the ban. |
| They warned that a ban on masks could prompt more people to take to the streets and lead to more violence. Moderate protesters, who have tended to play a stabilizing role in crowds and tried to discourage attacks on individuals and businesses perceived as loyal to Beijing, might become less willing in the coming weeks to defy a ban on face masks, leaving the streets to more radical protesters, they said. | They warned that a ban on masks could prompt more people to take to the streets and lead to more violence. Moderate protesters, who have tended to play a stabilizing role in crowds and tried to discourage attacks on individuals and businesses perceived as loyal to Beijing, might become less willing in the coming weeks to defy a ban on face masks, leaving the streets to more radical protesters, they said. |
| Mrs. Lam’s use of emergency powers allowed her to bypass the legislature, and underlines how her government and the police force may have run out of ways to restore order without limiting some civic freedoms. The measure alarmed some observers who feared she might exercise other emergency powers such as imposing curfews, muzzling the press, deporting foreigners and suspending various democratic rights. | Mrs. Lam’s use of emergency powers allowed her to bypass the legislature, and underlines how her government and the police force may have run out of ways to restore order without limiting some civic freedoms. The measure alarmed some observers who feared she might exercise other emergency powers such as imposing curfews, muzzling the press, deporting foreigners and suspending various democratic rights. |
| “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.” |
| For the protesters, the masks carry symbolic and practical significance. Many have become fearful they could be identified through photos and 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, showing their fear of retaliation. | For the protesters, the masks carry symbolic and practical significance. Many have become fearful they could be identified through photos and 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, showing their fear of retaliation. |
| Elaine Yu and Ezra Cheung contributed reporting. | Elaine Yu and Ezra Cheung contributed reporting. |