In Pictures

In Pictures: Masked students protest at HK graduation ceremony

About 1,000 students defy a ban on masks as they rally at graduation ceremony at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

University students wearing Guy Fawkes masks throw their hats after their graduation ceremony at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, in Hong Kong, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) — University students wearing Guy Fawkes masks throw their hats after their graduation ceremony at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. [Kin Cheung/AP Photo]

About 1,000 students have defied a ban on masks in an anti-government protest organised during a graduation ceremony at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on Thursday.

The ban on masks was imposed by the government last month in a bid to curb unrest that has rocked the city for more than five months, hammered its economy, which is sliding into recession, and hit the retail and tourism sectors particularly hard with tourist numbers plummeting.

Dressed in formal graduation gowns, many of the students chanted as they walked from a metro station to the ceremony venue, calling for the government to respond to protesters’ demands that include universal suffrage, with some holding up banners saying “Free Hong Kong, Revolution Now”.

The protests erupted over a now-scrapped extradition bill that would have allowed people to be sent to mainland China for trial but have evolved into calls for greater democracy and an independent inquiry into complaints of excessive force by police, among other demands.

University students wear Guy Fawkes masks, popularised by the ''V For Vendetta'' comic book film, during an anti-government protest at their graduation ceremony at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on — The students defied a ban on masks that the government imposed last month in a bid to curb unrest. [Philip Fong/AFP]

Masked University students display placards and chant slogans during an anti-government protest at their graduation ceremony at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on November 7, 2019. - Hong Kong has — 'The most important thing is we all remember five demands, not one less, even though we are all exhausted, we should not give up,' said Kelvin, a 22-year-old information engineering graduate. [Philip Fong/AFP]

University students walk on posters of Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam during an anti-government protest before their graduation ceremony at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on November 7, 201 — Students walk on posters of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam during the protest. [Philip Fong/AFP]

A mandarin speaking man points a knife at University students taking part in an anti-government protest during their graduation ceremony at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on November 7, 2019. - H — A man points a knife at the students taking part in the protest at the Chinese University. [Philip Fong/AFP]

University students wearing Guy Fawkes masks during a protest before their graduation ceremony at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, in Hong Kong, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) — The protests in Hong Kong started over a now-scrapped extradition bill that would have allowed people to be sent to mainland China for trial. [Kin Cheung/AP Photo]

A University student wears a Guy Fawkes mask, popularised by the ''V For Vendetta'' comic book film, during an anti-government protest at a graduation ceremony at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on — Protesters are now calling for greater democracy and an independent inquiry into complaints of excessive force by police, among other demands. [Philip Fong/AFP]

Graduates wearing masks hold an anti-government rally after their graduation ceremony at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, China, November 7, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon — More protests are planned on Thursday and over the weekend when bigger crowds usually gather. [Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters]