80 pro-democracy protesters arrested in Hong Kong

Hong Kong: At least 80 pro-democracy protesters were arrested Tuesday in Hong Kong’s Mong Kok district following multiple clashes between police and demonstrators, media reported.

Police were trying to control a stretch of a street for hours where many demonstrators were refusing to abandon their protest.

Bailiffs started to clear the occupying area in Mong Kok by removing barricades Tuesday morning. The operation started at 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, Xinhua reported.

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

At least three police officers were injured during the operation as confrontations intensified. 

A court order authorised police to remove barricades in one of the streets occupied by the protesters, who for two months have been demanding the right to directly choose candidates in the 2017 municipal elections, EFE reported.

The court decision came after a lawsuit filed by two groups of taxi drivers and a bus company, which claimed that their businesses were suffering from the interruption of traffic in the area.

Police are expected to continue the eviction throughout the week with the removal of more barricades put up in the district.

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