Hong Kong in near shutdown after ‘dark day’

Bloomberg

Hong Kong went into near shutdown as businesses closed and rail services were suspended for the first time in more than 20 years after overnight violence described by Chief Executive Carrie Lam as a “very dark day.”
A person was shot and injured during a scuffle between a plain-clothes police officer and demonstrators who had attacked his car. The chaotic scene was one of many across the city, as some protesters battled with police, vandalised mainland-linked businesses and train stations, and set fire to at least one train.
Many businesses were closed on Saturday, the start of a three-day weekend, as the city mopped up after the violence. Supermarkets that were open had long queues as shoppers stocked up on supplies. The protests followed warnings from opposition leaders that Lam’s decision to invoke a colonial-era emergency law to impose the ban would only further anger critics.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the city’s de facto central bank, dismissed speculation in social media on Saturday, which it described as a “malicious attempt to cause panic among the public.”
The city has a “robust and sound” banking system with ample liquidity, the HKMA said in a statement.
It is well positioned to withstand any market volatilities and has sufficient supply of banknotes to meet the needs of the public, it said.
Police detained two people with face masks in a square in Central, RTHK reported. At least one other person was arrested after a peaceful procession by demonstrators.
Riot police started appearing on the streets after marchers split up when they reached Chater Garden, their destination in Central. Some linked up in a human chain while others sang and chanted slogans in parks and squares.
The Hong Kong Association of Banks said some banks had shut branches and suspended services to repair damage, and to ensure the safety of customers and staff.
The association expressed regret over the situation and apologised for the inconvenience. It said in a statement that it condemns the violent acts across the city and hopes social order will be restored quickly “following the introduction of the Prohibition on Face Covering Regulation.”
The city’s train services were suspended for Saturday, with the exception of the Airport Express, according to operator MTR Corp.
This was the first time the service has been shut down since 2007, when the company merged with Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation, MTR said.
Hundreds of Hong Kong protesters defied the ban on masks as they marched from Victoria Park, Causeway Bay, to Central.