Thread by @rachel_cheung1

#CarrieLam's explanation for #AntiMaskLaw: a lot of people in the society support it. Other countries have similar legislation. It's not an easy decision, but it's a necessary one.

Doesn't imply the city has declared state of emergency. Purpose of the law is to restore order. #AntiMaskLaw makes exemptions for others who need to wear masks for necessary reasons. "This is a regulation and a subsidiary legislation." Law to be tabled at LegCo on 16th Oct.

Masks are banned in three situations:
1. March of >5 ppl or rally of >3 ppl approved under Public Order Ordinance
2. Unapproved rallies, illegal assemblies
3. Riots
Masks refer to anything that fully or partially cover the face and prevents identification, including paint.

Okay. Secretary for Security John Lee just corrected himself. He meant march of more than 50 people and rally of more than 30 people.

Q: How do you plan to use the powers provided under the Emergency Regulations Ordinance?
A: It's not an easy decision. Because title of #AntiMaskLaw includes "emergency", it led to some misunderstanding, that's why I clarified #HongKong is not under state of emergency...

If the situation doesn't deteriorates, we don't have to use other means. But if it does, we have to find other ways to restore calmness. It's not unlimited power, it is subjected to negative vetting in LegCo.

Secretary for Security John Lee: Most people abide by the law and most rallies in the past are peaceful. Without face covering, it will make it much easier for #police to investigate acts of violence and make arrests.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan: stock market rises and falls. People should have confidence. Our core competitive edge is not affected, such as our judicial independence and rule of law. After the situation has calmed down, we will promote #HongKong to the world.

Q: Two things can help defuse the situation, your stepping down and an independent commission of inquiry into police's handling of the protest. Is any of that happening?
#CarrieLam: we made strong appeal to schools, parents, to keep pupils away from violence. #AntiMaskLaw has..

deterrent effect. Stepping down will not help the situation. We will try our best to restore calmness to the society. We all have own our hypothesis for the violence that has taken place, necessary legal means is one of the ways to deescalate the situation. We started a dialogue

Q: If this fails, what will you do next?
#CarrieLam: "It's not an easy decision" (Is this the 4th/5th time she said that?) "It's a responsible decision because of escalation of violence we've seen. We had >200 people (then clarified herself) violent protesters arrested.

The situation is a fluid one, evolving one. Govt and law enforcement is on the reacting side. If there's no violence, we don't have to use these instruments. We appeal to the society to help us resolve this violence, restore law and order to #HongKong. If situation worsens, as

responsible government, we have to examine other instruments. We have to be extremely cautious and be sure that whatever we do, it's in the overall public interests of #HongKong."

John Lee: Special tactical force have ID number on their helmets, riot police and normal officers wear their warrant cards for identification. There're a lot of ways to identify police officers. But with their masks, rioters cannot be identified and they can leave the scene.

As proof of #HongKong's public safety being threatened, #CarrieLam says a lot of citizens feel like they cannot safely go to shopping malls. (salons seem fine tho)

Lam: "I noticed the world is watching. I hope the world will watch in a comprehensive, impartial manner. Perception is perhaps not the reality. I appeal to the outside world to have an interest in #HongKong, that should not just be influenced by perception...

In this case, HK is evoking valid, existing piece of legislation to make a piece of regulation. And the regulation made fully complies with this existing piece of legislation. (???) I don't understand how you can relate this to authoritarian. I hope the world has sympathy."

John Lee: #Police have sufficient reasons to make arrests. I disagree that arrests have been indiscriminate. They try very hard to make every arrest. We have indeed found fake press ID. Press have also done things that are not their job, such as surrounding the #police.

John reiterating that police officers can be identified, there are ways and a mechanism for people to complain. Angry shouts from the press.