Hundreds of police officers arrived in the Admiralty district on Thursday, December 11, and started clearing the barricades erected by demonstrators. The move was largely peaceful as the authorities encountered little resistance from pro-democracy supporters who are angry at Beijing's refusal to allow genuine universal suffrage in the city in 2017.

Police had previously warned that any protesters remaining at the camp would face arrest. Senior superintendent, Kwok Pak-chun, said anyone obstructing police would be committing an offence and police wouldn't hesitate to take action.

Many activists came to the site to watch as it was being cleared, including Alan Leong, leader of the Civic Party, and Emily Lau, chairwoman of the Democratic Party. For more than two months, supporters of the city's pro-democracy movement had staged protests occupying major traffic arteries of the former British colony.

Call to regroup

Groups such as Scholarism and the Hong Kong Federation of Students urged the demonstrators to regroup at several intersections of the city and protest peacefully. They should also bring equipment to protect themselves.

The leader of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, Alex Chow, told protesters that he would resist until the last moment to "demonstrate the movement's resolve." "As long as the city's administration sticks to the decision made by Beijing in late August, Hong Kong society will adopt an approach of civil disobedience, resisting the government," he stressed.

'I am sure we will be back'

There were emotional scenes at the site ahead of the clear-up as protesters took down their tents and gathered their belongings before leaving. 30-year-old marketing specialist Lorraine Ho dismantled the tent in which she had slept for more than two months after work. The activist told DW about her sadness and what she views as the apathy and indifference of the Hong Kong and Beijing authorities. "We haven't got all we want, I am honestly quite sad, but it is good to see that some people are being awakened. And I am sure we will be back."

But some said they were determined to stay until being arrested. "I would like to show my resistance and determination that we need to keep protesting, no matter the result," 22-year-old university student Jo Chan, told DW.