Hong Kong protesters defy mask ban with bricks and gas bombs
Fox News’ Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent Greg Palkot describes the weekend of protests that continue in Hong Kong.
Shouting “Wearing a mask is not a crime,” tens of thousands of protesters marched in central Hong Kong on Sunday, as a court rejected a second attempt to block a ban on masks aimed at quashing violence at pro-democracy rallies.
The ban, which took effect Saturday, triggered chaos for a third straight day in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. Police fired tear gas in several areas as demonstrators lobbed bricks and gasoline bombs in confrontations that have become a regular occurrence during the 4-month-old protest movement.
Lawmaker Dennis Kwok said the High Court refused to grant an injunction on the mask ban but agreed to hear later this month an application by 24 legislators against Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam's use of emergency powers to impose the rule by circumventing the legislature.
Masked protesters hold up their hands to represent their five demands in Hong Kong on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. All subway and train services were suspended, lines formed at the cash machines of shuttered banks, and shops were closed as Hong Kong dusted itself off and then started marching again Saturday after another night of rampaging violence decried as "a very dark day" by the territory's embattled leader. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Masked protesters march in Hong Kong on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. All subway and trains services are closed in Hong Kong after another night of rampaging violence that a new ban on face masks failed to quell. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
A masked protester holds up his hand to represent the protesters' five demands as he walks next to a banner reading "Hong Kong police deliberately murder" in Hong Kong on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. All subway and trains services are closed in Hong Kong after another night of rampaging violence that a new ban on face masks failed to quell. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
Masked protesters hold up their lit mobile phones as they sing a protest anthem in Hong Kong on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. All subway and train services were suspended, lines formed at the cash machines of shuttered banks, and shops were closed as Hong Kong dusted itself off and then started marching again Saturday after another night of rampaging violence decried as "a very dark day" by the territory's embattled leader. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Masked protesters hold hands to form a human chain to protest against a ban on masks in Hong Kong on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. All subway and train services were suspended, lines formed at the cash machines of shuttered banks, and shops were closed as Hong Kong dusted itself off and then started marching again Saturday after another night of rampaging violence decried as "a very dark day" by the territory's embattled leader. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Masked protesters hold hands to form a human chain to protest against the ban on masks in Hong Kong, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. All subway and train services were suspended, lines formed at the cash machines of shuttered banks, and shops were closed as Hong Kong dusted itself off and then started marching again Saturday after another night of rampaging violence decried as "a very dark day" by the territory's embattled leader. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Masked protesters walk next to a banner with the words "May Glory be to Hong Kong" in Hong Kong on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. All subway and trains services are closed in Hong Kong after another night of rampaging violence that a new ban on face masks failed to quell. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Hong Kong police detain a man on the streets of Hong Kong on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. All subway and train services were suspended, lines formed at the cash machines of shuttered banks, and shops were closed as Hong Kong dusted itself off and then started marching again Saturday after another night of rampaging violence decried as "a very dark day" by the territory's embattled leader. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
The embattled leader has said the ban on masks, which allows radical protesters to conceal their identity, was needed to stop widespread violence that has "semi-paralyzed" Hong Kong.
Lam has said she will seek the backing of the legislature when it resumes Oct. 16.
Many malls also remained shuttered as streets downtown turned into a sea of umbrellas, with protesters chanting "Hong Kong people, resist." The rally disbanded after police deployed tear gas to break up violence and detained over a dozen young protesters. Tear gas was also used in the city’s Mong Kok district.
Some protesters who wore masks Sunday said the ban curtailed their freedom of expression. The ban applies to both illegal and police-approved gatherings, and carries a penalty of up to a year in jail and a fine.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
The Associated Press contributed to this report.