For the first time in more than 50 years, Hong Kong's leader recently used her office's emergency powers to ban the wearing of face masks at the city's pro-democracy protests.
Now some say the face mask ban might be just the start of a wider expandion of emergency powers.
Kim Da-mi has the details.
Escalating tension in Hong Kong is now sparking concerns that the Hong Kong government may expand its use of colonial-era powers.
According to Hong Kong legislator Claudia Mo, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam is using the powers as "a weapon of mass destruction to nuke Hong Kong" in order to pave the way for more oppression.
The powers can grant the government control over everything from curfews to confiscations and even censorship.
There are now rumors authorities will expand the length of custody from the current 48 hours to 96 hours, block messaging apps or websites used by protesters and even disrupt Internet services in the city.
On Monday, an 18 year-old student and a woman in her late 30s were released on bail after being arrested for illegally covering their faces.
And with a Hong Kong court ruling that face mask ban is legal over the weekend, fears are rising that the city may be sliding toward martial law.
Hong Kong's secretary for justice Teresa Cheng refused to comment, but emphasized that the government was considering all means to quell protests.
The Emergency Regulations Ordinance was first introduced a century ago when the British attempted to control a strike by Chinese sailors.
The law hasn't been implemented for more than half a century but can be invoked in case of emergency, giving the government ultimate powers to change regulations as officials see fit.
KIM Da-mi, Arirang News.