Hong Kong police ban major protest against anti-mask law, citing risk of bombs, arson and unrest

Hong Kong police have banned a major march on Sunday against the government’s anti-mask law, citing public security concerns.

The Civil Human Rights Front intended to hold a march at 1:30pm from Salisbury Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui to the West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus: “The anti-mask law deprives freedom of expression among Hong Kong citizens, and threatens everyone’s personal safety while exercising their rights to freedom of assembly,” it said.

A judicial review against the anti-mask law will be heard by the High Court by the end of the month.

The Front said the march was also sought to urge the government to set up an independent commission of inquiry to investigate alleged police brutality and abuse of power, as well as propose resolutions to rebuild the police force.

Mass protests, now in their 19th week, have evolved from the movement’s original aim of opposing a proposed extradition agreement with China into a wider movement seeking democracy, among other demands.

The police have banned numerous protests since July, but crowds have gathered as planned nonetheless.

Under the anti-mask law, enacted earlier this month by the government using powers under the 1922 Emergency Regulations Ordinance, protesters wearing masks face up to a year in jail if convicted.

The police cited injuries and violent incidents arising from large-scale roadblocks, arson, and weapons such as home-made explosive devices, at previous Front marches as a reason.

A suspected improvised explosive device was found in Mong Kok near police vans during a protest last Sunday.

The police also said the route of the march passes high-risk buildings which protesters may storm, and thus it had to be banned.

Meanwhile, the Front – which says up to milion people have attended its previous protests – has said it will likely appeal the decision.

Jimmy Sham, the convener of the pro-democracy coalition, was attacked by men with hammers on Wednesday night in a Tai Kok Tsui street. He was hospitalised after suffering wounds to his head, which required stitches, and injuries to his knees and elbows.

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