		<div class="wpcnt">
			<div class="wpa">
				<span class="wpa-about">Advertisements</span>
				<div class="u top_amp">
							<amp-ad width="300" height="265"
		 type="pubmine"
		 data-siteid="111265417"
		 data-section="1">
		</amp-ad>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div><p>Riot police have fanned out across Hong Kong as groups of hardline protesters took to the streets in continued violence after the government banned face masks at rallies, pushing the semi-autonomous Chinese territory into deeper crisis.</p>
<p>The scenes in at least six locations across the city have almost become the norm, with groups of black-clad youths setting up road barriers to block traffic, smashing traffic lights and shops linked to China, and breaking into and vandalising shuttered subway stations.</p>
<p>Riot police fired tear gas, charged at crowds and took up positions on the streets.</p>
<p>A number of protesters were detained.</p>
<p>The night violence broke the day’s relative calm, when hundreds of people gathered in several shopping centres to sing protest songs and chant slogans.</p>
<p>The mask ban, which took effect on Saturday under an emergency law, has led to more anger instead of deterring the anti-government demonstrations that have rocked the international financial hub for four months.</p>
<p><em>“Wearing a mask is not a crime!”</em> has become a new battle cry at daily rallies that have degenerated into skirmishes between police and hard-core protesters.</p>
<p>Earlier on Monday, an 18-year-old student and a 38-year-old woman became the first to be prosecuted under the mask ban, which is punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine.</p>
<p>Detained early on Saturday shortly after the ban took effect, the two were also charged with taking part in an unlawful assembly, which carries a heavier penalty of up to five years in jail.</p>
<p>They were both released on bail pending trial.</p>
<p><em>“I am wearing a mask to come here today … this is a form of silent protest,”</em> said 16-year-old student Bao Yeung, who was among a large group of supporters outside the court.</p>
<p>The protests were sparked by a now-shelved bill that would have allowed some criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial but have since morphed into a larger anti-government movement.</p>
<p>Protesters are upset at what they say is Beijing’s increasing influence over the former British colony, which was promised a high level of autonomy when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.</p>
<p>Ms Lam has said she will seek the legislature’s backing for the mask ban when it meets next on October 16.</p>
<p>She has said the mask ban will make identification of rioters easier for police and that other measures are possible if violence continues.</p>
<p>Critics fear the emergency law, which gives Ms Lam broad powers to implement any measures she deems necessary, could pave the way for more draconian moves.</p>
<p>The law was enacted by the British in 1922 to quell a seamen’s strike and was last used in 1967 to crush riots.</p>
<p>A police official said 13 people were detained on Saturday for violating the ban and other offences but could not say how many more were arrested on Sunday.</p>
<p>Enforcement is tricky in a city where many have worn surgical masks since a deadly respiratory disease outbreak in 2003.</p>
<p>Two teenagers have been injured by gunfire from officers under attack this week.</p>
<p>An 18-year-old protester, shot at close range by a riot officer on Tuesday, was charged with rioting and assaulting police.</p>
<p>A 14-year-old, who suffered a gunshot wound to his thigh on Friday night, was arrested.</p>
			<div style="padding-bottom:15px;" class="wordads-tag" data-slot-type="belowpost">
				<div id="atatags-dynamic-belowpost-68ed6fd82982d">
					<script type="text/javascript">
						window.getAdSnippetCallback = function () {
							if ( false === ( window.isWatlV1 ?? false ) ) {
								// Use Aditude scripts.
								window.tudeMappings = window.tudeMappings || [];
								window.tudeMappings.push( {
									divId: 'atatags-dynamic-belowpost-68ed6fd82982d',
									format: 'belowpost',
								} );
							}
						}

						if ( document.readyState === 'loading' ) {
							document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', window.getAdSnippetCallback );
						} else {
							window.getAdSnippetCallback();
						}
					</script>
				</div>
			</div>
Discover more from London Glossy Post
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
