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Politics

Hong Kong protesters defy face mask ban

October 18, 2019

Many protesters took a mocking approach to challenge a recent ban on masks at rallies. Chinese leader Xi Jinping, cartoon characters and Guy Fawkes were among those depicted by people forming a human chain.

https://p.dw.com/p/3RWzS
Hong Kong Protests
Protesters wearing Winnie the Pooh and Guy Fawkes masks form part of the human chain with a masked Pepe the Frog stuffed animal Image: Getty Images/AFP/E. Jones

Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters defied a government ban on wearing face masks as they formed a human chain across the city battered by four months of unrest.

Many participants donned cartoon character and Guy Fawkes masks (now also a symbol of the Anonymous group), while others derided restrictions by taking on the guise of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Read more: Hong Kong crisis: What you need to know

Hongkong | Anti-Regierunsgproteste
Protesters donned masks bearing the face of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in an apparent attempt to mock the mainland leaderImage: Getty Images/AFP/P. Fong

Other protesters wore masks depicting prominent rights activist Jimmy Sham, who was beaten by four men wielding hammers and knives on Wednesday in what democracy campaigners said was an act of intimidation.

Protesters aimed to form a 40-kilometer (25-mile) human chain tracing the city's subway system in a repeat of a similar protest in August.

Read more: Anti-mask law: Hong Kong moving toward 'martial law'

Hong Kong protests
Protesters wore a variety of amusing masks as they blocked an intersection Image: Reuters/U. Bektas

The autonomous city's government earlier this month invoked colonial-era emergency laws banning face masks at protests. Lam said the restriction on masks, which have been a constant feature at protests, was meant to deter radical behavior.

Protesters say they wear the masks to remain anonymous and avoid their identities being shared with China's state security services.

Friday's protest came as pro-democracy organizers said they planned to stage a major march on Sunday despite police determining it illegal.

Hong Kong protests
Protesters wore masks depicting the face of activist Jimmy Sham Image: Reuters/U. Bektas

Police said they would not allow the march because past events had been "hijacked by a group of radical protesters" who vandalized property and clashed with police.

The ban sets the stage for possibly violent confrontations between police and protesters worried about China encroaching on Hong Kong's special status.

Crisis mode: Conflict Zone special

cw/msh (AFP, AP, Reuters)

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