Hong Kong: Metro, banks, shopping centres remain shut

On Saturday, Hong Kong's metro rail network was at a standstill with hundreds of shopping centres, stores and banks remained shut as the city was reeling from aftermath of another widespread destruction and violence.

Violence followed the implementation of a ban on people wearing masks at public assemblies by the Carrie Lam-led Hong Kong Government earlier on Friday, which was a colonial emergency policy not in use for over half a century.

The ban was designed to stop almost four months of anti-government demonstrations in the city against the now shelved extradition bill.

After the unprecedented shutdown of all Mass Transit Railway (MTR) stations late on Friday night, the MTR Corporation announced at 3.45 a.m. on Saturday that none of the lines could be reopened in the morning.

"After the outbreak of violence at multiple districts, maintenance staff have to make sure of their own safety before they can travel to the damaged stations to inspect and assess the extent of damages at our stations, and to carry out repair work," the rail operator said on its website, adding that it would review the situation later in the day.

More than 20 shopping centres were also closed across the city, while all performances at the West Kowloon Cultural District on Saturday have been cancelled or rescheduled.

One of the city's two largest supermarket chains, ParknShop, announced on its Facebook page its stores would not open for the day, while Watsons, a pharmacy chain, also said all its stores, except those at the Hong Kong International Airport, would remain shut.

Several banks have suspended services at some branches because of vandalised facilities and traffic disruptions, including Bank of China, which closed all branches except one, the South China Morning Post reported.

On Friday night, protesters wearing masks in open defiance of the new law, also blocked roads and vandalised and burned shops, and bank outlets.

Police began taking control later at night, firing tear gas at violent mobs.

( With inputs from IANS )