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Hong Kong protests: Dozens arrested as sites demolished Hong Kong protest leaders among 116 arrested in crackdown
(about 7 hours later)
Scores of people have been arrested in Hong Kong during scuffles sparked by operations to dismantle pro-democracy protest activist camps. Two leading student activists are among scores of people arrested in Hong Kong in a crackdown on the two-month long pro-democracy street protests.
Those arrested included leading student activists Joshua Wong and Lester Shum. Authorities began demolishing one of the largest camps, in the Mong Kok commercial district, on Tuesday.
The authorities, acting on court orders, are clearing part of the Mong Kok commercial district in Kowloon. The operation began peacefully but scuffles broke out overnight and in the morning, during which Joshua Wong and Lester Shum were held for contempt.
Protesters fought running battles overnight on the streets around the busy thoroughfare Nathan Road, with police using batons and pepper spray. Police say streets around Nathan Road are clear for the first time in weeks.
Some activists have said they will regroup elsewhere, vowing to continue their demands for a free choice of leader for Hong Kong's chief executive elections in 2017.
Other protest camps remain in the government district and the Causeway Bay shopping area.
Analysis: John Sudworth, BBC News, Shanghai
There have been attempts to clear Hong Kong's streets before, notably of course, right at the beginning of the protests. Video footage of the protesters defending themselves with umbrellas from the pepper spray became the defining image and only served to give the movement massive momentum.
Now though, the authorities are taking a more careful approach. Recent clearance efforts, including those over the past two days in the Mong Kok district, have been to enforce the court injunctions, won by businesses including the city's taxi drivers, angered over the effect on their businesses.
They also come at a time when the protesters are weary after two solid months of sit-ins, their numbers dwindling, and not long after the world spotlight has left China following the Apec Summit. Scenes of Hong Kong chaos might not have played well with the world leaders meeting in Beijing.
But with Mong Kok cleared, two other sites remain, including the main protest site in the heart of the financial district. Further court injunctions or not, that remains a much tougher proposition.
The authorities have moved in on Mong Kok after local businesses secured court injunctions against the disruption to their businesses.
Early on Tuesday, court bailiffs backed by police removed a section of the camp at the junction between Nathan Road and Argyle Street.
Many protesters packed up and moved elsewhere but scores resisted, leading to arrests for contempt of court and obstructing police officers.
Then late at night on Tuesday and in the early hours of Wednesday, bailiffs and police - some carrying pepper spray and batons - also began clearing camps on Nathan Road, a major thoroughfare in Kowloon.
The court injunction was read out before bailiffs and workers - some wearing T-shirts that read "I love HK" - began dismantling barricades made of wooden pallets and other materials.
Police officers wearing helmets tore down tents and canopies. Other officers were standing by with backpack pepper sprayers, local media reported.
The Hong Kong Federation of Students said its leading activist Lester Shum was detained, along with Joshua Wong of the Scholarism movement and a number of other key protest figures.The Hong Kong Federation of Students said its leading activist Lester Shum was detained, along with Joshua Wong of the Scholarism movement and a number of other key protest figures.
It is Mr Wong's second arrest in recent months, after he was detained in September at the start of the protests.It is Mr Wong's second arrest in recent months, after he was detained in September at the start of the protests.
Other arrests were for alleged offences including assaulting police, possessing offensive weapons and obstructing officers.Other arrests were for alleged offences including assaulting police, possessing offensive weapons and obstructing officers.
Tents torn down
The authorities moved in on Mong Kok after a court gave permission for camps in two of the district's roads - Argyle and Dundas Street - to be cleared. A taxi company won an injunction after arguing that its business was being disrupted.
Tuesday's clearance in another area of Mong Kok was the result of an injunction by a bus company.
The clearance operation continued early on Wednesday as bailiffs, backed by police, began removing barricades.
Bailiffs and workers in red baseball caps and T-shirts that read "I love HK" dismantled wooden pallets and other materials after a warning was read out.
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.
According to the injunction, anyone seen to be obstructing the process can be arrested for contempt of court, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post reports.
The BBC's Martin Yip in Hong Kong says police action to clear the site on Tuesday appears to have encouraged many more protest supporters to come on to the streets.
The main protest site, in the financial district across the harbour, remains largely intact, with a normally busy eight lane highway blocked by hundreds of tents.
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.
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 South China Morning Post.Mr Wong, from the Scholarism group, had earlier said the court orders were being used as an excuse to remove activists, according to the South China Morning Post.
Protesters complained that the bailiffs have not explained properly what the court order includes and what would qualify as "obstructing" their work.
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Are you in Hong Kong? Have you witnessed the dismantling of activist camps? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukAre you in Hong Kong? Have you witnessed the dismantling of activist camps? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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