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A Hong Kong man wearing a mask in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong on October 5th, despite the ban on covering his face set up on October 4th. PHILIP FONG / AFP

In Hong Kong, the tension remains very strong. Hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators marched again this Saturday, October 5, 2019 in the special administrative area, where last night was also very rough.

With our correspondent in Hong Kong , Vincent Souriau

In a gesture of defiance towards the head of the local executive, Carrie Lam , who decreed Friday the prohibition of the wearing of the mask in the processions, many still had the hidden face this Saturday, October 5th.

An exceptional law that disturbs

The "anti-mask" decree put in place on 4 October is controversial because it is based on a very controversial legal tool: an exceptional law. This law allows the executive to bypass Parliament, and in this case tends to lift the anonymity of the protesters . Hong Kong's civil society fears an authoritarian drift with no limit.

For Vickie Lui, criminal lawyer and close pro-democracy circles, this law is a constitutional drift: " It is completely useless and contrary to our rules of law. Our laws must be necessary, useful and proportionate, as in any democratic society. This text can only worsen the situation and, above all, it will serve no purpose in the situation that Hong Kong is currently experiencing . "

The Hong Kong authorities are benefiting from a 1922 state of emergency ordinance, a very vague text that, according to Vickie Lui, opens the door to an ever more severe crackdown on the protest movement.

" The term used in this text is" in the interest of Hong Kong ". So, they interpret it as they want. It may mean cutting off access to some websites, banning mobile apps, messaging that has been used extensively since the beginning of the movement, or curfews. "

Civil society has been quick to act since two appeals have already been filed against government decrees. She believes that they do not comply with the Basic Law, the Hong Kong mini-constitution. The answer is in the hands of the courts.

Disturbed public transport

In parallel with the demonstrations, the city has been idling all day. The authorities decided to suspend the subways. This Saturday, no train has circulated throughout the day.

The transport authority explains that repairs are needed, after further damage last night and that the entire network had to be shut down. A complicated situation for the Hong Kong people, but easier to manage at the weekend, because the workers are at rest.

But there are still taxis, replacement buses, and the tram works. So there are disturbances, but with a relative impact.

This general cut of the subway was really necessary? This is the question that titillates the city dwellers in Hong Kong. Because of the 91 metro stops, about fifteen, maybe twenty stations, were damaged.

Some wonder if this is not a strategy to limit the wild events, especially since the authorities have paid attention to the connections to the Hong Kong airport, which are not interrupted. So the Hong Kong people take it with caution, so far.