in an occasion of serious danger,” said Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, when she announced her decision on October 4th to invoke the Emergency Regulations Ordinance, a colonial-era bill—disused for more than 50 years—allowing the government to impose sweeping curbs on civil liberties. Mrs Lam only announced one new restriction: a ban on the wearing of masks during protests. But thousands of demonstrators defied the edict. Widespread violence broke out, paralysing transport.
Mrs Lam’s belief that the mask ban will have a “deterrent effect” may prove wrong. But her description of the problem was close to the mark. “Protesters’ violence has been escalating and has reached a very alarming level in the past few days,” she said. Indeed it has. On June 12th, shortly after the unrest began, young protesters wept after the police fired rubber bullets at them. They have since become battle-hardened .
It was not all mayhem. Tens of thousands of people marched peacefully, also wearing masks. Only a few dozen were arrested for donning them, suggesting that enforcement is a problem. Mrs Lam insists that she has “no plans” to invoke the emergency bill again, but many Hong Kongers believe she may be tempted to use it to declare a curfew or control the use of instant-messaging apps that are often used to organise protests. Such measures would be sure to provoke defiance.
But some residents wish protesters would change their tactics. They would like an end to the disruption of transport and the violence that makes it difficult for some people to leave home or go to work. The movement’s extraordinary scale and persistence has relied on the tolerance shown by moderates towards radical action, including the throwing of petrol bombs. Recently, however, many moderates have been saying that the “frontline fighters” should back off.
But some radicals are itching for trouble, including on October 16th when the Legislative Council will meet for the first time since July. There the government is expected to withdraw the draft bill that triggered the unrest, which would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to the Chinese mainland. But the legislature, dominated by pro-government politicians, is likely to endorse the face-mask ban. It will be another day of tension.
Riots must stop
Plus, locally , violence is losing the supports from moderates or neutrals...Stop arson, vandalism, hurling petrol bomb and beating up who disagree, PLEASE. HKprotests
I do hate when I chop my own head off and dump my body parts in the harbour. At least I'll get a free state cremation as quick as can be.
For once, I agree with you🧡
HK people have voiced out their demands. It’s the government who refused to restore peace! Stubbornness BloodyCarrie StandWithHongKong
Every worrior american gov supported will bring Ur country huge mount of 911 alike surprises.
We asked for the 5DemandsNot1Less, she gave us the AntiMaskLaw. Of course its not going to work .
Regime change now!!
HongKong needs to break away from China ‘s totalitarian repressive party. Their only relationship should be financial, apart from that, China can either democratize itself FULLY or burn in hell.
'Cowards'. Fixed it for you.
Protester should never count on US help. If they hade more money than China to pay Trump it could work because he need good economical growth before election, this is the only thing that matter, money money. rojava
Now western media is like in a Cultural Revolution :'everything against China is right, everything China did is wrong.' It's not about HK anymore, they want to devide China. Really, I am sick of it already as a mainlander, if you prefer a war, then let's finish it. cnni CNN
Nah But the wumao and tankies did
Without the front lines you have no lines. I say give military support
ButchersRuleBeijing
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