Masked protesters barricade road in downtown Hong Kong

• Masked protesters built barricades in the heart of Hong Kong's commercial district on Friday.
• Blockades were also formed in the district of Kowloon Tong while hundreds of masked protesters held a sit-in at a mall in Sha Tin.
• Thousands more masked protesters remained in the roads behind the main barricade.

HONG KONG: Masked protesters built barricades in the heart of Hong Kong's commercial district on Friday moments after the city's embattled leader invoked emergency laws to forbid face coverings.

Dozens of protesters used plastic barriers, wooden pallets and traffic cones to set up makeshift blockades in Central district, where many blue-chip international firms are based. Thousands more masked protesters remained in the roads behind the main barricade.

Blockades were also formed in the district of Kowloon Tong while hundreds of masked protesters held a sit-in at a mall in Sha Tin.