Hong Kong Demonstrators Sigh Of Relief After Court Rejects Anti-Mask Law

Hong Kong demonstrators wear masks to protect themselves from tear gas (Twitter / @ galileocheng)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong High Court annulled the Anti-Masks Act. Protesters' resistance to the law bore fruit. Now, they can breathe freely.

Since some time ago, protesters in Hong Kong were faced with new problems. The passage of the Anti-Mask Law made the masks they used to protect themselves from tear gas illegal.

The ban on the use of masks has also raised concerns for demonstrators. Without masks, demonstrators fear that their identities could be disseminated to China's massive state security apparatus.

Hong Kong High Court Judges, Judges Anderson Chow Ka-ming and Godfrey Lam Wan-ho supported the demonstrators on the ban on masks that took effect on October 5.

毎 日 言 う け ど 、 催 涙 弾 本 当 に く さ い 吸 う と 気 持 ち 悪 く な る し 肌 も 目 も 鼻 も 頭 く な 鼻が 出 て い まま

- 周 庭 Agnes Chow Ting 😷 (@chowtingagnes) November 13, 2019

They considered that the ban on the use of masks under the emergency law - Anti-Masks Law - was not in accordance with the Basic Law (UUD). In addition, in their consideration the judges also considered that the ban was an excuse for the police to forcibly remove masks, including those who did not participate in the protests.

However, the Hong Kong government insists the issuance of an emergency law makes sense. According to them, the Constitution has never prohibited the Legislative Council from authorizing the executive to make emergency regulations. The Hong Kong government also sees the anti-mask regulation as having a real impact.

Previously, the Hong Kong government issued an emergency law which became the basis for prohibiting protesters from wearing masks or face covers. The law is also said to be part of an effort to reduce the wave of protests against the Extradition Bill which triggered the descent of demonstrators to the streets.

Hong Kong demonstrators wearing masks to fight tear gas (Twitter / @ galileocheng)

However, the Anti-Mask Law actually heated things up. The protests are increasingly becoming as demands are growing to cancel the Anti-Mask Law. Demonstrators also fought back using masks of various famous characters, including Winnie The Pooh.

Since the demonstration began, Hong Kong protesters have used the figure of Pooh to mock Chinese netizens against President Xi Jinping. The Pooh mask is also believed to have triggered the emergence of a ban on the use of character masks by the Chinese government.