Ban on masks at protests to stay: HK’s top court

HONG KONG: The Hong Kong government’s decision to use a colonial-era law to ban face masks at protests last year was both proportionate and legal, the city’s top court ruled on Monday.

The ruling is a blow for democracy supporters who had been hoping the Court of Final Appeal would overturn the order. It also confirms that Hong Kong’s chief executive - a proBeijing appointee - has the power to enact any law in a time of public emergency without needing the approval of the city’s partially elected legislature.

But its practical consequences were unclear, given that the government has made masks compulsory in public areas to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Hong Kong was convulsed by seven straight months of huge and often violent pro-democracy protests last year. They were eventually quashed by mass arrests, a virus-related ban on public gatherings and Beijing imposing a new national security law on the city in June.

Face masks became ubiquitous to reduce the risk of identification and prosecution for those taking part in peaceful marches, or violent clashes with police.

In October last year Chief Executive Carrie Lam banned anyone covering their face at public rallies, using the Emergency Regulations Ordinance, a British colonial law from 1922.

Opposition lawmakers challenged both the use of that law and the ban on wearing masks at permitted rallies. They argued the move breached Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law.

A lower court agreed and expressed concerns about the emergency law and the proportionality of the mask ban. But on Monday, a panel of top judges unanimously backed the government.

Rockets explode near US embassy in Baghdad

A volley of rockets exploded near the US embassy in Baghdad on Sunday, as tensions mount ahead of the anniversary of the US killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

A few moments later, they heard thunderous rapid-fire sounds and saw streams of red flares in the night sky, indicating the US embassy’s C-RAM rocket defence system had been activated.

A security source told AFP at leat three rockets hit near the US diplomatic mission, while two others hit separate residential neighbourhoods.

Iraq’s security forces issued a statement saying the attacks caused material damage, but no casualties.