Violence erupted across Hong Kong as defiant masked
protesters rampaged and
police fired tear gas Friday, hours after the city's embattled leader invoked rarely used emergency powers to ban masks at rallies in a hardening of her stance after four months of anti-government demonstrations.
Challenging the ban, set to take effect Saturday, thousands of protesters crammed streets in the central business district and other areas, shouting "Hong Kong people, resist." Pockets of angry protesters later attacked Chinese bank outlets, vandalized subway stations and set street fires, prompting police to respond with tear gas in many areas.