HK police to clear last occupy site Monday

Workers remove barricades at an area blocked by protesters near the government headquarters building at the financial Central district in Hong Kong, December 11, 2014. [Photo by Roy Liu/Asianewsphoto]

Hong Kong police announced Saturday that they will clear the illegally occupied section of Yee Wo Street in Causeway Bay, the last remaining site, after completely clearing the other two occupied sites in Mong Kok and Admiralty, People's Daily reported.

Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Steve Hui Chun-tak told a press conference that the section in Yee Wo Street has been illegally occupied. He added that sporadic clashes occurred, and some of them had turned dangerous. The illegal occupation has led to a severe traffic jam and seriously affected businesses there, thus, it is necessary to free up the street and bring the traffic back to normal, according to him.

At 9:30 am, the police will explain the operation to the press to improve transparency. He hoped that the protestors would cooperate and avoid clashes. He called for the illegal occupiers to remove barriers and their personal belongings as soon as possible and leave peacefully.

He said the police will not resort to force if there is no resistance or violence. But if the protestors refuse to leave, the police will try to disperse them or even detain those who obstruct the process.

He also said that protestors continued to gather at various sections of Mong Kok on Friday and early Saturday and seven were detained after they failed to respond to repeated warnings.