HK police start clearing remaining occupy sites

Workers remove barricades at an area blocked by protesters near the government headquarters building at the financial Central district in Hong Kong, December 11, 2014. [Photo by Roy Liu/Asianewsphoto]

HONG KONG - Hong Kong authorities on Thursday morning started clearing barriers in Occupy sites in Admiralty to free up main roads and streets that have been blocked by protesters for more than two months.

Workers in safety vests and helmets dismantled the barricades set up by protesters. They used cutters and pinchers to remove barriers heavily stranded by adhesive tapes and iron chains. Obstacles including water-barriers, wooden boards and bamboo sticks were removed and put on trucks to carry away.

The move came after bailiffs read out court's injunction orders to protesters, declaring that they would remove barriers in Connaught Road Central, Harcourt Road, Tim Wa Avenue, Tim Mei Avenue and Gloucester Road, asking the protesters to leave the Occupy area peacefully and not to impede law enforcement.

The bailiffs said the police force would help execute the court's injunction orders if the protesters obstruct the law enforcement.

The police called on protesters to leave and not to impede the clearance process. Police Senior Superintendent Kwok Pak-chung said there were enough manpower to maintain order and they would not hesitate to intervene if the protesters exercise violence to interfere with the bailiffs' work.

Some key figures of student groups and several members of Hong Kong's Legislative Council who refused to leave stayed at the Occupy sites in Admiralty, waiting for being taken away by the police.

The Occupy protest in Hong Kong started on Sept. 28 and blockaded several main roads and streets in Kowloon and Hong Kong island, which has resulted in serious traffic disruption, less tourists, temporary closure of schools and banks and a slump in local stock market trading.

Hong Kong police assisted bailiffs in clearing the protest site at Mong Kok in Kowloon on Nov. 25 and 26.