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| Lunchtime protest in Central ahead of the announcement of the mask ban |
By The SUN
Protests are ongoing right now, six hours after Hong Kong
Chief Executive Carrie Lam used emergency power to impose a ban on the use of
masks at public assemblies, in a bid to stop a civil unrest that is now on its
18th week.
Speaking at a press conference at 3pm after a meeting with the
Executive Council, Lam invoked a tough, colonial-era emergency law that has not
been used for more than 50 years, to impose the ban from midnight tonight, Oct 5.
The law carries a penalty of one year in jail or $25,000
fine for violators, Security Minister John Lee said.
As CE Lam spoke, thousands of people, many of them workers
in the financial sector, poured into the streets of Central, blocking vehicular
traffic with barricades.
A Maxim’s restaurant on Connaught Road had two of its glass
windows smashed by protesters. A fire was also burning outside the Chinese
General Chamber of Commerce nearby.
After the mask ban was announced, more anti-government protests
were reported in several districts, including Kowloon Tong, Whampoa and Tuen
Mun, where people have begun setting up roadblocks.
Hundreds of people were also reported to be on their way to
the Central Government Offices in Admiralty to show their anger at the mask ban.
Explaining her decision to impose the ban, Mrs Lam said: “As a responsible government,
we have the duty to use all available means in order to stop the escalating
violence and restore calmness in society.”
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She said the four-month-old protest had reached a very alarming level of violence, “causing numerous injuries and leading to a chaotic and panic situation”.
She expressed concern that many students are taking part in the
protests “or even riots, jeopardizing their safety and even their future.”
She said that she decided to invoke her power under the
Emergency Regulations Ordinance to order the “Prohibition on Face Covering
Regulation”,or the anti-mask law.
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| Nighttime protest in Whampoa after the mask ban was announced |
“I would like to emphasize that the decision to invoke the (ERO) is a difficult but also a necessary one for public interest,” Lam said.
But she clarified that: 1) Hong Kong is not in a state of
emergency despite being in serious danger; 2) the objective of the regulation
is to end violence and restore order; 3) the regulation targets only rioters or
those who resort to violence; and 4) it could be subject to negative vetting or
rejection when tabled for discussion at the resumption of the Legislative
Council session on Oct 16.
Lam reiterated her offer to continue a dialogue with the public to find solutions to deep-seated social problems and allowHong
Kong to move forward.
Lam reiterated her offer to continue a dialogue with the public to find solutions to deep-seated social problems and allow
At about 1pm earlier, protesters wearing masks gathered on Chater Garden
to show opposition to the planned regulation by raising their right hands and shouting
“Hong Kong resist”, “Liberate Hong Kong,” “F..
the Popo” and other anti-government slogans.
Police were out of sight as the crowd spilled onto Queen’s
Road and moved down the western lane of Des Voeux Road , halting traffic.
The kilometer-long procession turned right on Queen Victoria St
towards Exchange Square
and IFC 2, then returned to Chater
Garden
But after office hours, the crowds again swelled, blocking
all transport routes to the Central financial district. Shops closed early and
MTR staff tried to pull down the shutter at one exit but protesters forced it
open.
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