CCTVNEWS — The main protest sites were cleared by the Hong Kong authorities on Thursday afternoon. The Hong Kong police said the entire clearing of the occupied sites was expected to conclude before Friday.
Police officers began their move down the street clearing the occupied areas until they reached the city’s government headquarters. The entire area was then sealed off, according to local media.
The clearance work began 90 minutes after bailiffs read out a court injunction ordering protesters to leave. With the escort of the police, workers wearing safety vests, gloves and helmets dismantled and removed the barricades and makeshift tents in the area. To separate the barriers, the clearing crews had to cut off iron chains, cable ties, bicycle locks and tightly-wound plastic tape.
According to reports, the clearance work was unfolding smoothly and there were not any clashes. Some protesters left the area as instructed early in the morning, but prominent student leaders and some members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council said they refused to leave the sites.
Local media said that the police issued their “final warning” at 4:00 p.m. to urge protesters to move away. The police were hopeful that traffic in the area could be resumed before midnight. The next target to be cleared will be protest sites in Causeway Bay, a well-known shopping area in Hong Kong.
Article by CCTV News
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