Thousands Protest Mask Ban as Hong Kong Leader Toughens Stance

Protesters wear masks and hold up their hands to represent their five demands in Hong Kong on Oct. 4, 2019. Vincent Yu/AP

HONG KONG–Thousands of defiant masked protesters streamed into Hong Kong streets on Oct. 4 after the city’s embattled leader invoked rarely used emergency powers to ban masks at rallies in a hardening of the government’s stance after four months of pro-democracy demonstrations.

Challenging the ban set to take effect on Saturday, protesters crammed streets in the central business district and other areas, shouting “Hong Kong people, resist.”