HK authorities start clearing remaining occupy sites

HONG KONG, Dec. 11 (NsNewsWire) — Hong Kong authorities on Thursday started clearing barriers at Occupy sites in Admiralty to free up main roads and streets that have been blocked by protesters for more than two months.

The clearance began in the morning at around 10:30 local time, when workers dismantled the barricades set up by the protesters after bailiffs read out court’s injunction orders to protesters, reports Xinhua.

The move was followed by a comprehensive clearing action taken by the police in the afternoon.

Police officers formed a cordon in the Occupy area and started off the clearing. They removed tents, canopies and other obstacles left behind by the protesters and used bolt cutters and electric saws to take down large barriers.

The bailiffs declared that they would remove barriers in Connaught Road Central, Harcourt Road, Tim Wa Avenue, Tim Mei Avenue and Gloucester Road, asking the protesters to leave the Occupy area peacefully and not to impede law enforcement.

Workers in safety vests and helmets slowly removed barriers heavily stranded by adhesive tapes and iron chains with the use of cutters and pinchers.

Obstacles including water-barriers, wooden boards, bamboo sticks and road cones were removed and put on trucks to carry away.