Hong Kong: Face mask ban prompts thousands to protest
Tens of thousands of protesters braved the rain on Sunday to march in central Hong Kong. A court had earlier rejected a second legal attempt to block a mask ban aimed at quashing violence during four months of pro-democracy rallies.
The ban took force Saturday, triggering more clashes and destruction over the last two days in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.
Many malls, shops and the entire MTR network of subways and trains shut yesterday following the overnight rampage.
Many peaceful demonstrators say violence has become a means to an end, the only way for young masked protesters to force the government to bend to clamors for full democracy and other demands.
The protest movement started in June over a now abandoned bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited for trial in mainland China.
It has snowballed into an anti-China movement as protesters demand for more democratic rights including direct elections for the city’s leader and police accountability.
