Claudia Mo

---

thousands of unplanned protests in Hong Kong have taken part to The Territory government announced a face mask ban came into force at midnight (16:00 GMT).

Chief executive Carrie Lam called on a colonial-era emergency issue legal turmoil in a bid to months of anti-government press.

The ban comes after an escalation of violence during the protests on 1. October, when an officer shot one of the protesters.

"reports" on Friday, said a 14-year-old had been shot in the leg.

He is allegedly being treated in Tuen Mun hospital and is in serious condition.

confirmed this to be a officer "fired a shot, because his life is seriously threatened" after he was attacked by a large group of protesters, including with petrol bombs. The Statement did not say whether anyone was hit.

The demonstrations have now subsided, while most of The Territory , although there are still pockets of Unrest .

What happened on Friday?

protests erupted immediately after the ban was announced.

to connect as Many left work early, the spontaneous demonstrations. Some of the angry protesters blocked roads, set fire to Chinese flags and vandalized stations, and companies, such as the Police rounds of tear Gas fired.

On Friday, the area of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) announced a full-service,-suspension of all trains, which will continue all day on Saturday.

A spokesman told the BBC that this was due to vandalism and attacks on staff. Images showed fires lighted at the stations, and reports indicate that set a train on fire.

Many Hong Kongers were forced to walk home in the midst of the Unrest .

Some pro-Beijing shops were attacked after The Face mask ban was announced, The Territory of the transit system remains closed until Saturday, after protesters fire lit outside, several stations

The Mask -wearing activists had also called earlier, others wearing masks of resistance against the government, which critics fear increasingly authoritarian.

Ms Lam said, to call them that was forced on the colonial-era Law because of violence in the now-weekly protests, was the "destruction of The City ", and you could not allow The Situation "worse and worse".

The end of anonymity

Danny Vincent, Bbc News , Hong Kong

Angry, chanting protesters as they marched through The Heart of this financial hub. They tore down a banner marking 70 years of Communist rule, setting it on fire in front of a cheering crowd.

hundreds were wearing masks, which, despite the ban.

Today is The Last time protesters can hide their faces, it's legal. Anonymity is an important part of this movement, but Many fear that the introduction of The Emergency lead Law could lead to further restrictions.

This protest movement began in opposition to an extradition bill withdrawn now by the legislature. The use of the Emergency Law do not have to go through the legislative body.

Mrs Carrie Lam , The Territory is not in a state of emergency, but The Law allows it, additional emergency measures.

What was the reaction to the ban?

observers say that the scheme is difficult to enforce and very controversial: critics have warned that The Mask ban would be The First in a series of "draconian" measures.

"This is a turning point. This is a Rubicon," pro-democracy MP Claudia Mo told AFP. "And I'm worried this could be just a starter. More draconian bans, which could, in the name of The Law , lurking around The Corner . "

The Announcement has also prompted the reaction with Marta Hurtado, of the United Nations for Human Rights , speaker of the finding at a press conference in Geneva that "any restriction must be a basis in The Law , and proportionate, and as little Intrusive as possible".

the British foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab , meanwhile, said that "political dialogue is the only way to resolve The Situation ".

Beijing Carrie Lam facial mask ban

supported But supports Beijing , Mrs Carrie Lam , and their management.

In a BBC Newsnight interview, China's Ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming called The Face mask ban "timely and necessary" and said it was "too early to say" whether there will be more violence had caused.

"I think the [Hong Kong government] decided that the introduction of the ban, because The Situation is escalating to a dangerous level," he said, while adding that China had committed itself to respect the " One country, Two systems Policy - the financial aid is Hong Kong , more Freedoms than in China until 2047.

The Ambassador reiterated that China would intervene if The Local authorities lost control.

"If The Situation in Hong Kong is uncontrollable, but we don't sit in our hands, and watch you," he said.

Where the prohibition apply?

The ban applies to authorized and unauthorized public assemblies, meetings and demonstrations as well as unlawful assemblies and riots.

The ban covers all types of face covering, including face paint. Demonstrators have worn masks for A Number of reasons, including to hide their identities from the employers, parents and, in Some cases, Police and protect themselves from tear Gas .

Some of the demonstrators blocked roads and set fires, while the Police tear Gas fired

There are exceptions for people wearing masks for health reasons, or, if required by their profession.

Ms Lam said: "the violence, escalating to alarming values" leads to a situation of "chaos and panic" in The City .

What is The Emergency regulations Ordinance?

The legislation is of Ms Lam, called The Emergency regulations Ordinance, dates back to the year 1922 and has not been used in More Than 50 Years .

allows The Chief executive circumvention of the normal legislative process, where the invoices go through The City , the Parliament, the Legislative Council.

Many face masks moved to the protests of The Emergency measure, which came into force at midnight

The ERO was last updated prevent used in 1967, the Unrest in the area, the commercial hub.

Ms Lam stressed that the new scheme would mean that Hong was Kong in a state of emergency. But She Said The City was "in a state of severe danger to the public".

What is the background?

Hong Kong , the protests started in June, triggered by the proposals of the extradition of offenders to Mainland China .

The delivery of the invoice has now been deleted, but protests widened in the pro-democracy and anti-Police demonstrations.

over the months, clashes between Police and activists of the violence are increasingly active. On Tuesday, Police and a protester shot in the chest with a live opponent for the First Time .

authorities say the 18-year-old - who was the attack on the Police and was arrested after he was shot is in stable condition in the hospital.

Hong Kong is a former British colony returned to China in 1997.

It has guaranteed a "one country, two systems" agreement that there is a certain degree of autonomy, and its people certain Freedoms , including of Assembly and freedom of speech.

But these Freedoms , the basic Law , will Expire in 2047 and it is not clear what Hong Kong is its status then.

hong kong anti-government protests, hong kong extradition bill, hong kong, carrie lam

Source of news: bbc.com