Hong Kong protesters fight law banning face masks

Hong Kong demonstrators defied a new law banning face masks, coming out in force Saturday as protests left the self-governing Chinese city-state nearly paralyzed, according to a report.

Groups were smaller than earlier but hundreds of marchers swept into the city’s Causeway Bay district, said The Associated Press.

Many held signs reading, “Glory to Hong Kong” and chanted “Hong Kong, resist!” the wire service reported.

Hong Kong authorities have taken aggressive action to curb the protests and restrict the movements of resistance members, included closing the city’s subways.

In the hours after Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam invoked emergency powers, violent demonstrations erupted. Protesters set fire to subway stations and vandalized local business believed to be sympathetic to China, the Guardian reported.

Police met the dissidents with tear gas and live fire.

A 14-year-old protester was shot Friday by a plainclothes police officer — the second protester shot by police this week, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“The government needs to take drastic measures to say no to violence, restore peace in society, protect citizens’ right to continue their daily lives and freedom, not allowing a small group of rioters to destroy it,” Lam said.