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Hong Kong police set to clear protest site | Hong Kong police set to clear protest site |
(35 minutes later) | |
Police in Hong Kong are preparing to move in on student protesters who have blocked roads in the city centre for more than two months. | Police in Hong Kong are preparing to move in on student protesters who have blocked roads in the city centre for more than two months. |
The authorities have warned protestors to leave so that bailiffs and police can clear barricades, but some have vowed to remain. | The authorities have warned protestors to leave so that bailiffs and police can clear barricades, but some have vowed to remain. |
The number of protesters has fallen to a few hundred, from tens of thousands who first gathered in September. | The number of protesters has fallen to a few hundred, from tens of thousands who first gathered in September. |
Officials had given protesters a deadline of 09:00 (01:00GMT) to leave. | Officials had given protesters a deadline of 09:00 (01:00GMT) to leave. |
The BBC's Babita Sharma, who is in the area, says police are building up their presence at the site. Shortly after 09:00, bailiffs read out a final warning to leave to protesters. | |
The protesters want Beijing to allow free elections for the territory's next leader in 2017. China says everyone can vote but a pro-Beijing committee will screen candidates. | The protesters want Beijing to allow free elections for the territory's next leader in 2017. China says everyone can vote but a pro-Beijing committee will screen candidates. |
'Non-violent approach' | 'Non-violent approach' |
The clearance is the result of a court order obtained by a bus company which says the protests have disrupted its business. | The clearance is the result of a court order obtained by a bus company which says the protests have disrupted its business. |
While the order covers three portions of the Admiralty site, including the main Connaught Road area, Hong Kong police spokesman Cheung Tak-keung said officers would remove obstructions from nearby roads. | While the order covers three portions of the Admiralty site, including the main Connaught Road area, Hong Kong police spokesman Cheung Tak-keung said officers would remove obstructions from nearby roads. |
He also said they would clear away barricades from a second protest site at Causeway Bay site "at an appropriate time". | He also said they would clear away barricades from a second protest site at Causeway Bay site "at an appropriate time". |
Student leaders have said that they will remain at the Admiralty site as long as they can but will not offer violent resistance to the operation. | Student leaders have said that they will remain at the Admiralty site as long as they can but will not offer violent resistance to the operation. |
Some pro-democracy politicians say they will join the students at the site. | Some pro-democracy politicians say they will join the students at the site. |
Some protesters, however, were packing up their tents. | Some protesters, however, were packing up their tents. |
"I'll probably leave just before the action because my job would be difficult if my name was recorded by police," one 29-year-old protester told AFP news agency. | "I'll probably leave just before the action because my job would be difficult if my name was recorded by police," one 29-year-old protester told AFP news agency. |
Clashes erupted when a third protest site, at Mong Kok, was cleared last month. On Wednesday, Hong Kong's top civil servant Carrie Lam urged students to leave the Admiralty site peacefully. | Clashes erupted when a third protest site, at Mong Kok, was cleared last month. On Wednesday, Hong Kong's top civil servant Carrie Lam urged students to leave the Admiralty site peacefully. |
"I will appeal to [students] that they should abide by what they have said all along, and that is to adopt a peaceful, orderly and non-violent approach with a view to avoiding unnecessary confrontation with the police," she said. | "I will appeal to [students] that they should abide by what they have said all along, and that is to adopt a peaceful, orderly and non-violent approach with a view to avoiding unnecessary confrontation with the police," she said. |
Later that evening, more than 10,000 people gathered at the protest site, chanting pro-democracy slogans. | Later that evening, more than 10,000 people gathered at the protest site, chanting pro-democracy slogans. |