Court bailiffs backed by police have begun clearing one of the main pro-democracy protest camps in Hong Kong on Tuesday.
The protest site in the Admiralty district saw its barricades dismantled after a high court injunction was granted. Hong Kong’s police stated that they would support the bailiffs who moved in to clear the site, warning of “resolute action” against anyone who obstructed or “violently charge[d]” the bailiffs.
The high court has also authorised the clearance of another protest site in Mong Kok, though a third camp remains at Causeway Bay.
Speaking after the bailiffs moved in, Joshua Wong, of the Scholarism student group, said, “we will proceed on the principle of peace and non-violence.”
“We are not looking for an argument with the police. If they clear the road outside the car park we will accept that. If they clear other areas it will be very disappointing.”
The New York Times quoted an anonymous source involved in the Hong Kong government’s decision to clear the site as saying, “The government is in no hurry to end the whole thing because public opinion is growing on our side.”
“It will be guerrilla warfare — we will clear it, they will regroup, we will clear it again, they will regroup, but eventually they will dissipate,” the source continued.