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Hong Kong protests: Dozens arrested as sites demolished | Hong Kong protests: Dozens arrested as sites demolished |
(35 minutes later) | |
Police in Hong Kong say more than 80 protesters have been arrested during clashes, as operations to dismantle activist camps continue. | |
The authorities, acting on court orders, are clearing part of the Mong Kok commercial district in Kowloon. | |
Overnight on Tuesday, protesters fought running battles on the streets around Nathan Road, with police using batons and pepper spray. | |
Police were seen detaining more people on Wednesday. | |
Yvonne Leung of the Hong Kong Federation of Students said leading student activists Lester Shum and Joshua Wong were among those arrested on Wednesday. | |
A total of 116 people have now been arrested since Tuesday, for offences including assaulting police, possessing offensive weapons and obstructing offices. | |
Tents torn down | |
The clearance operation in Mong Kok continued early on Wednesday as bailiffs, backed by police, began removing barricades. | |
A court has given permission for the Argyle and Dundas Street areas to be cleared following an injunction by a taxi company that argued its business was being disrupted. | |
Tuesday's clearance was the result of an injunction by a bus company. | |
On Wednesday, workers in red baseball caps and T-shirts that read "I [heart] HK" started dismantling wooden pallets and other materials after a warning was read out by the bailiffs. | |
Police officers wearing helmets are on the streets as well, tearing down tents and canopies. Other officers are standing by with backpack pepper sprayers, local media reported. | |
Anyone seen to be obstructing the process can be arrested for contempt of court, according to the injunction Hong Kong's South China Morning Post. | Anyone seen to be obstructing the process can be arrested for contempt of court, according to the injunction Hong Kong's South China Morning Post. |
The activists have been on the streets since early October, demanding a free choice of leader in the 2017 election. | The activists have been on the streets since early October, demanding a free choice of leader in the 2017 election. |
China, however, says the pool of candidates that people in Hong Kong will vote on will be selected by a Beijing-backed committee. | China, however, says the pool of candidates that people in Hong Kong will vote on will be selected by a Beijing-backed committee. |
Protesters originally numbered in the tens of thousands when the Hong Kong unrest first began in October, but have since dwindled to a few hundred, while attempts by both sides to reach a compromise have made little progress. | Protesters originally numbered in the tens of thousands when the Hong Kong unrest first began in October, but have since dwindled to a few hundred, while attempts by both sides to reach a compromise have made little progress. |
Mr Wong, from the Scholarism group, had earlier said the court orders were being used as an excuse to remove activists, according to the Post. | |
Protesters complained that the bailiffs have not explained properly what the court order includes and what would qualify as "obstructing" their work. | Protesters complained that the bailiffs have not explained properly what the court order includes and what would qualify as "obstructing" their work. |
Hong Kong democracy timeline | Hong Kong democracy timeline |
Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy | Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy |