UN rights chief says troubled by Hong Kong violence

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said Saturday she was "troubled" by Hong Kong's increasingly violent pro-democracy protests, and stressed that any measures to quell the unrest must be grounded in law.

The city endured another night of chaos Friday, after leader Carrie Lam banned face masks at demonstrations, invoking colonial-era emergency powers not used for half a century.

Hardcore protesters trashed dozens of subway stations, vandalised shops with mainland China ties, built fires and blocked fires.

"We are troubled by the high levels of violence associated with some demonstrations that have been taking place in the past days," Bachelet said during a visit to Malaysia.

She said she was "alarmed" by injuries to police, protesters and journalists covering the demonstrations.

"I strongly condemn all acts of violence from all sides," she added. Asked about the ban on face coverings, she said: "We believe that any restriction must have a legitimate and formal basis in law, has to be proportionate."