Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says no plans to use emergency powers to introduce new laws

Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam yesterday said her administration has no plans to use colonial-era emergency powers to introduce new laws, after violent protests over ban on face masks. 

Talking to media, the chief executive said she would work with the police and the information services department to allow individuals like journalists to wear a mask but still enforce the law.

She added that there would be problems with the legislation if people refused to abide by



the law.

Lam said the city’s economy is being battered by months of increasingly violent protests. The city’s airport has been periodically besieged by protesters, and some train and subway lines and shopping malls have suffered significant disruptions from the demonstrations.

Protesters are demanding Carrie Lam’s resignation even after she withdrew legislation that provoked the latest rounds of turmoil.