Hong Kong has met with a new round of violence after an anti-mask law was announced on October 4. The regulation, which bans protesters from hiding their faces in riots or unlawful assemblies, is already in effect across the world in at least 15 countries – including France, Germany, Canada, Britain, Russia and some states in the U.S.

Experts from many countries have voiced support for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government's decision, saying it plays a positive role in ending violence. 

"If someone simply participated in an unlawful assembly, their punishment wouldn't be that serious – mostly imprisonment for a term no longer than 18 months. But if a person participated in an unlawful assembly with a masked face, then there would be a sentence of up to five years," said Li Jun, a lawyer in Canada.

Over the past four months, the escalation of violence by rioters has plunged Hong Kong into chaos and panic. Masked rioters have resorted to radical acts including wrecking public properties, damaging and disrupting transport facilities, setting building on fires, hurling petrol bombs at police officers and into crowds, and worst of all, attacking innocent residents who hold different political views. 

"Face-coverings may be misused and anonymity may cause serious consequences, because any protest may be taken advantage of by political forces, to trigger unrest. I think the anti-mask regulation will help Hong Kong restore social order and stability," said Alexander Khinshtein, a deputy in the lower house of Russian parliament. 

"If protesters conceal their faces, they may feel that they will not be punished. So it should not be tolerated in any circumstance," he stressed. 

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Carrie Lam, HKSAR chief executive, has expressed strong confidence in the anti-mask law and its ability to help combat violent criminal acts and restore social order, saying it will assist officers in the process of law enforcement and help prohibit underage youth from participating illegal acts.

The city's police force on Friday told a press conference that 90 people have been arrested since the regulation came into effect less than a week ago, pledging every effort to combat violence and bring Hong Kong back on the right track.