Police begin clearing Hong Kong protest site

Hong Kong, Dec 11 (IANS/EFE) Hong Kong police Thursday began clearing tents, barricades and improvised shelters from the downtown Admiralty district after giving an ultimatum to pro-democracy protesters occupying the area to disperse.

Using loudspeakers, the officers repeatedly asked the protesters who have occupied the area for two months to maintain calm, otherwise force would be used against them and arrests made if necessary.

While maintenance personnel dismantled and removed barricades, police began to advance towards the main protest site from both sides of Hardcourt Road, the street with the most number of tents put up by the protesters.

Hundreds of people, however, remained at the protest site despite the government's announced determination to clean up the Admiralty, Hong Kong's main financial and government office district, where the "Umbrella Revolution" first began in late September.

The policemen are executing a High Court order to clear the protest sites that have disrupted traffic ever since demonstrations broke out when the Beijing government refused to allow independent candidates for local elections set for 2017.

Dozens of vehicles, some with water cannons, have been deployed by police while hundreds of officers have been equipped with riot-control gear and body armour.

Many protesters plan to remain at the site knowing they will be forcefully removed by the authorities as they complete the 75th day of their demonstration for more democratic freedom for Hong Kong.

Large banners and placards reading "We'll be back" and "It's just the beginning" welcomed police and bailiffs as they approached Admiralty.

Starting late Wednesday, hundreds of students spent several hours to remove their belongings from the occupied Admiralty district before the forced evacuation began.

--IANS/EFE

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