Advocates call for anti-mask law in unrest-hit Hong Kong

HONG KONG - An advocate group was formed on Thursday to urge the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government to ban face masks in unauthorized rallies in an effort to cool the months-long unrest in Hong Kong.

The group composed of figures from sectors of politics, business, law, education and others said it would also launch an online petition for the anti-mask law to be put in place.

Elizabeth Quat, convener of the group and a Legislative Council (LegCo) member, said rioters in recent unrests had used masks to conceal their identities and escape legal penalties. She cited psychological finds that demonstrators tend to behave more aggressively when masked.

She said several countries had enacted similar anti-mask laws and Hong Kong should introduce the ban to quash violence, which has "seriously disrupted people's livelihood and economic development."

The lawmaker said Hong Kong could learn from the Canadian law that targets only unlawful rallies and riots, while stressing that peaceful demonstrators are not targeted.

Unrests have raged for more than three months in Hong Kong as radical protesters, often black-clad and masked, blocked roads, set fires in streets, trashed metro stations and assaulted police, civilians and businesses.

On Thursday afternoon, a civil group also petitioned outside the HKSAR government headquarters for establishing the anti-mask law as soon as possible.

"Masks have become an protective umbrella for rioters in Hong Kong's escalating unrest. We will never allow those masked rioters to undermine Hong Kong's prosperity and stability," said one petitioner surnamed Lee.