Hong Kong protest leader Joshua Wong called for international awareness of a potential “martial law” in the city, as leader Carrie Lam looked set to ban face masks at protests.
“The world must stand with Hong Kong against Hong Kong being transformed into a police state with martial law,” Wong said as he handed in his application to compete in local elections.
Even before the new rule was confirmed, protests against it began across the Asian financial hub, with hundreds of office workers wearing masks gathering to march.
Media said Carrie Lam, the city’s Beijing-backed leader, was due to hold a news conference at 3 p.m. (0700 GMT), and the ban on face masks, worn by many protesters to hide their identities, would come into effect at midnight (1600 GMT)