Hong Kong, Oct 4 (TIWN) The government of Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Friday introduced a ban on people wearing masks at public assemblies, a colonial-era emergency legislation that has not been used in more than half a century.

Opposition politicians warned it represented a slide towards authoritarianism and risked further inflaming tensions.  Adding to concerns about a hardline government approach, a leaked memo showed police had relaxed their guidelines on using lethal force the day before a teenage student was shot in the chest, the first live-ammunition injury since protests began in June.  Police have insisted the officer acted lawfully, and the 18-year-old student, who is still being treated in hospital, was charged with rioting and assaulting a police officer.  Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, was expected to announce details of the face mask ban on Friday, local media reported, in response to chaotic violence across the city on China’s national day, 1 October.