This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
On Saturday, Hong Kong residents were still reeling from the previous night's street clashes, arson, and vandalism that had thrown the city into chaos. The city's entire subway system was shuttered, and many businesses were closed, including several major malls and all but one branch of Bank of China.
As tourists anxiously rushed to Hong Kong's airport, the normally bustling financial hub was cloaked in eerie silence. The streets were empty, and the city's residents were bracing for the prospect of further unrest as a contentious ban on face masks took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday.
The ban, announced by Hong Kong's embattled leader Carrie Lam on Friday, aims to 'stop the escalating violence and restore calmness in society.' However, many protesters believe that the ban is an attempt to suppress their right to protest and hide their identities from tear gas.
On Friday, a 14-year-old boy was hit in the leg by a gunshot, and his condition was later changed from serious to stable. The police claimed that one of its plainclothes officers had fired a shot in self-defense, but the exact circumstances of the incident remain unclear.
As the city struggles to come to terms with the latest developments, protesters are planning to defy the new ban by gathering with masks in the streets over the weekend. 'The ban is not addressing the problem; it's trying to get rid of the people who are trying to speak out about it,' said Castor Lau, a 29-year-old protester.
