Anti-Mask Law Used by Hong Kong Authorities to Suppress Protesters Ruled Illegal by High Court

An anti-government protester wearing a mask attends a lunch time protest, after local media reported on an expected ban on face masks under emergency law, at Central, in Hong Kong on Oct. 4, 2019. Tyrone Siu/Reuters

A controversial anti-mask law in Hong Kong put in place by Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam in early October has been declared unconstitutional by the city’s high court.

Judges ruled that the government’s blanket ban, which targeted pro-democracy protesters, was “incompatible with the Basic Law” of the Chinese-ruled port city.