Hong Kong gov't bans wearing of face masks during protests

The Hong Kong government on Friday invoked an emergency law to ban the wearing of face masks at public demonstrations, with a stated aim of deterring violence amid intensifying anti-government protests.In issuing the ban, which became effective Saturday, Hong Kong invoked its Emergency Regulations Ordinance for the first time since returning to Chinese rule in 1997.The announcement triggered an angry response as protesters took to the streets in several parts of the territory in the evening. Local media reported fires being set at multiple locations and riot police responding with tear gas.…READ FULL ARTICLE