China hails Hong Kong's move to clear protest sites

The Chinese government Friday hailed Hong Kong's decision to disperse and clear the Occupy Central protest sites.

The central government "fully agrees and firmly supports" the Hong Kong government and police's decisions to stop these illegal activities, thereby maintaining social order and safeguarding the rule of law, a statement from the State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said.

Hong Kong authorities cleared protest sites in Admiralty, the main pro-democracy protest centre, Thursday and traffic in front of the government headquarters resumed before midnight, Xinhua reported.

Protesters for the Occupy Central movement had erected a traffic blockade in downtown Hong Kong, undermining the city's social order, economy, democratic progress and rule of law, the statement said.

The central government expects Hong Kong to follow the "five-step" process to realise universal suffrage in the election of the region's next chief executive in 2017.

The Occupy protest has not won the favour of Hong Kong's civilians, the Chinese government statement added.