Article
Hong Kong Plans to Outlaw Masks


Hong Kong is moving toward enacting a ban on face masks like those pro-democracy demonstrators have been wearing in street protests.

To do that, the government would start using emergency powers for the first time in a half-century that date to British colonial rule.

The law allows the chief executive, Carrie Lam, to "make any regulations whatsoever" during an emergency, NPR reports. Once the powers are invoked, a legislator said he feared, "The next thing is they are going to extend the detention period, and the next is they are going to further curtail the Hong Kong people's rights and freedoms, including canceling District Council elections, all in the name of using the emergency regulation."

Further steps aren't under consideration, per the Wall Street Journal. Once the ban is approved by Lam's executive council, it would take effect Friday.

Police called for the ban after a demonstrator was shot by officers during protests Tuesday.

The masks offer some protection against tear gas as well as making it more difficult to identify protesters.

Foreign diplomats are among those who fear the ban will only inflame tensions. A Hong Kong professor said the emergency powers, which date to 1922, shouldn't override freedom of assembly, which is guaranteed, and could be challenged in court, per the Guardian.

"The yearning for freedom, democracy and liberty are not going to go away just because you bring in more draconian regulations," the legislator said.

QUESTIONS:
1) What prompted the Hong Kong police to call for the ban of face masks?

2) Illustrate the steps the government should take to enforce the said prohibition.

3) Cite some concerns on the possible abuse of the emergency powers and limits on people’s rights.

4) What potential problems perturb the foreign diplomats? Do you agree such forbiddance won’t effectively discourage the protesters?

5) Since police violence has gotten excessive, should gun control policies start applying on the responding officers? Why or why not?

VOCABULARY/EXPRESSION:
Draconian - exceedingly harsh; very severe