Hong Kong police arrest key protesters, clear site

World Today

A total of 148 people have been arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday as Hong Kong’s police assisted bailiffs clearing the occupying area in Mong Kok, according to the police. CCTV’s Li Jiejun reported this story from Hong Kong.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated Wednesday that China’s central government supports the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government in handling Occupy Central movement in accordance with the law.

Hong Kong’s Acting Chief Executive John Tsang appealed to protesters they should be rational, show restraint and leave the occupying sites as soon as possible. Protestors have been there for two months.

“China has repeatedly stated its principles and stance saying the Occupy Central movement in Hong Kong is a completely illegal action. The central government of China firmly supports the Hong Kong SAR government in dealing with it in accordance with law,” said Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, at Wednesday’s news briefing.

Bailiffs started to clear the occupying area in Mong Kok by removing barricades on Tuesday morning. The operation started around 10:30 a.m., after bailiffs read out court injunctions at the scene. About 6,000 police were deployed to the scene to assist the operation.

Among those arrested on Wednesday were protest leaders Joshua Wong, the 18-year-old head of the Scholarism group, and Lester Shum, deputy secretary general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students.

Hong Kong’s Acting Chief Executive John Tsang appealed on the same day that protesters should be rational and restraint and leaves the occupying sites as soon as possible.

The High Court of Hong Kong granted a preliminary injunction to ban demonstrators from occupying roads in Mong Kok on Oct. 20 after groups of minibus and taxi operators filed for an injunction that would reopen the paralyzed roads.

The high court extended the injunctions on Oct. 27 and again on Nov. 10.

Police reiterated on Tuesday evening that they would take resolute enforcement actions against any illegal acts endangering public order and safety.

Political analyst Wang Xuewen discusses clearing of Hong Kong protest sites.

CCTV America interviewed Wang Xuewen, a political analyst and former vice president of International Business Daily, about the clearing of barricades from protest sites in Hong Kong.

This story is compiled with information from CCTV America, Xinhua News, Reuters, and the Associated Press.