Hong Kong

Protesters read out a declaration in a Hong Kong shopping mall for a provisional government Friday in response to an anti-mask law announced by Carrie Lam, the city's embattled leader.

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Video obtained by Reuters showed protesters - many in masks - reading out the statement establishing a provisional government, which was initially published on Reddit-like web portal LIHKG.

The statement called for the suspension of the Chief Executive and the cabinet, as well as the creation of a government,  elected through universal suffrage, a key demand underpinning the protests in Hong Kong.

"The declaration helps protesters think: where does this government's legitimacy come from?" the protester who filmed the declaration, and wants to be known by the pseudonym of "Ma", told Reuters.

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"The government uses its own position, its status, to take away the freedom for the people to speak," Ma added. "This is merely the initial spark of resistance. To establish a shadow government is merely an idea."

Protests are expected to continue on Saturday after the anti-mask ban was announced, with the city's metro lines shut down, supermarkets and shopping malls shuttered.