The colonial-era law that gives Hong Kong leader sweeping powers

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Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Friday invoked a rarely used colonial-era law to ban protesters from wearing face masks. During the four months of huge protests, face masks have become ubiquitous as demonstrators try to avoid being identified by police. Hong Kongers will still be allowed to wear face masks in the street -- a common practice in a city ever since a SARS outbreak killed more than 300 people in 2003.