Operators say its due to the malicious vandalism by protesters demonstrators have remained defiant against a new ban on facemasks chief executive carol lam and go take colonial era law to enforce the ban and gain greater powers to clamp down on protests got higher reports now from hong kong. Placemats have become one of the main symbols of the protester movement here in hong kong theyre also a way to hide identities from surveillance camera now its illegal for protesters to cover their faces. Their protests have become increasingly violent and initial peaceful rallies the largest ever seen here calling for the withdrawal of a proposed extradition law had escalated into running battles in vandalism. Their demands became more of a broad push back against what protestors see as growing control from beijing. Chief executive kerry lam has turned to a British Colonial era emergency law not you since riots in 1967 anyone who wears a mask could face up to a year in jail and a 3 1000. 00 fine h