Natasha Khan reports for the WSJ:
HONG KONG--A court struck down the government's emergency anti-mask law as unconstitutional, a ruling that underscored the independence of the city's British-style judiciary that is under pressure from China to back a stronger crackdown on social unrest.
The Oct. 4 law banning people from wearing masks at public gatherings was an excessive tightening of people's freedoms despite the unrest, the city's High Court ruled, after a group of pro-democracy lawmakers challenged it.
Good for the High Court. I am not optimistic about this lasting, though. China is a totalitarian dictatorship, and in the end it will crush dissent just like it did in Tiananmen Square 30 years ago.
I think this has the potential to be far worse than Tiananmen. This is an urban area with multiple points where protesters are dug in. If (when?) the army moves in it will be a blood bath. I would also note, slightly off topic, that all the folks who want to Boycott,Divest, and Sanction Israel don't seem overly concerned about China. Odd.