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| Hong Kong police clear pro-democracy demonstrators’ protest site | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| HONG KONG — Police cleared demonstrators from one of Hong Kong’s largest protest sites Wednesday and arrested two student leaders at the forefront of the pro-democracy movement that has gripped the Asian financial hub for two months. | HONG KONG — Police cleared demonstrators from one of Hong Kong’s largest protest sites Wednesday and arrested two student leaders at the forefront of the pro-democracy movement that has gripped the Asian financial hub for two months. |
| Crowds gathered near the protest site in the city’s Mong Kok shopping district cheered and clapped as the final protesters were removed from the site that has become a flashpoint between protesters and those intent on breaking up the protests. | Crowds gathered near the protest site in the city’s Mong Kok shopping district cheered and clapped as the final protesters were removed from the site that has become a flashpoint between protesters and those intent on breaking up the protests. |
| Although scuffles broke out when the riot police moved against the protesters after clashes overnight, there was no serious violence Wednesday, according to news reports. | Although scuffles broke out when the riot police moved against the protesters after clashes overnight, there was no serious violence Wednesday, according to news reports. |
| Traffic flowed freely in the busy area for the first time since protesters took to the streets in late September to demand greater democracy in the former British colony. | Traffic flowed freely in the busy area for the first time since protesters took to the streets in late September to demand greater democracy in the former British colony. |
| Police Wednesday also arrested Joshua Wong and Lester Shum, two of the leaders of the protest movement that has posed the biggest challenge to China since Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule in 1997. | Police Wednesday also arrested Joshua Wong and Lester Shum, two of the leaders of the protest movement that has posed the biggest challenge to China since Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule in 1997. |
| The clearing of the Mong Kok protest site came a day after police arrested at least 86 pro-democracy demonstrators, after an attempt to clear occupied streets descended into scuffles, confrontation and chaos. | The clearing of the Mong Kok protest site came a day after police arrested at least 86 pro-democracy demonstrators, after an attempt to clear occupied streets descended into scuffles, confrontation and chaos. |
| On Tuesday morning, bailiffs and contractors wearing hard hats had removed some of the barricades in Mong Kok following an injunction brought by a minibus company that had complained that its business was hurt. Authorities have recently begun using bailiffs and the courts as a way to whittle away at the protest sites. | On Tuesday morning, bailiffs and contractors wearing hard hats had removed some of the barricades in Mong Kok following an injunction brought by a minibus company that had complained that its business was hurt. Authorities have recently begun using bailiffs and the courts as a way to whittle away at the protest sites. |
| The exercise began peacefully, with protesters offering no resistance as workers removed barricades and wooden pallets blocking the road. But as workers moved down the street, removing tents and other items — and as more protesters arrived — tensions began to rise. | The exercise began peacefully, with protesters offering no resistance as workers removed barricades and wooden pallets blocking the road. But as workers moved down the street, removing tents and other items — and as more protesters arrived — tensions began to rise. |
| As the day wore on, police made several attempts to force protesters back, using batons, shields and pepper spray — and hauling to the ground, handcuffing and arresting any who did not retreat quickly enough. Protesters wore masks and goggles, and some carried wooden shields to defend themselves. Some staged “mobile occupations,” blocking traffic on surrounding streets. | As the day wore on, police made several attempts to force protesters back, using batons, shields and pepper spray — and hauling to the ground, handcuffing and arresting any who did not retreat quickly enough. Protesters wore masks and goggles, and some carried wooden shields to defend themselves. Some staged “mobile occupations,” blocking traffic on surrounding streets. |
| The protesters who were detained face charges including criminal contempt of court, unlawful assembly, resisting or obstructing police, assault on a police officer, and possession of an offensive weapon, police said. | The protesters who were detained face charges including criminal contempt of court, unlawful assembly, resisting or obstructing police, assault on a police officer, and possession of an offensive weapon, police said. |
| Mong Kok, a working-class neighborhood, has been home to a more unruly crowd of protesters than the main occupation site in the Admiralty district, but demonstrators in Mong Kok have also faced more anger and threats from local residents. | Mong Kok, a working-class neighborhood, has been home to a more unruly crowd of protesters than the main occupation site in the Admiralty district, but demonstrators in Mong Kok have also faced more anger and threats from local residents. |
| Support for the civil-disobedience action mounted by the pro-democracy demonstrators has diminished in recent weeks, opinion polls show, although support for democracy remains strong. | Support for the civil-disobedience action mounted by the pro-democracy demonstrators has diminished in recent weeks, opinion polls show, although support for democracy remains strong. |
| Protesters remained defiant, however. | Protesters remained defiant, however. |
| “Even if they clear this place, our will to fight for genuine universal suffrage hasn’t changed,” 27-year-old protester Ken Chu, wearing a bright yellow safety helmet and a gas mask, told the Reuters news agency Tuesday. “It will only inspire people to think of other ways to continue this movement.” | “Even if they clear this place, our will to fight for genuine universal suffrage hasn’t changed,” 27-year-old protester Ken Chu, wearing a bright yellow safety helmet and a gas mask, told the Reuters news agency Tuesday. “It will only inspire people to think of other ways to continue this movement.” |
| Denyer reported from Beijing; Deane reported from London. | Denyer reported from Beijing; Deane reported from London. |