Hong Kong police arrest 116 at protest site

Workers clean the main Nathan Road at Mongkok shopping district, after police cleared a protest site which has occupied the street for weeks, in Hong Kong, November 26, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

HONG KONG - Police arrested 116 people as Hong Kong authorities cleared street barricades from a protest camp in the Mong Kok district for a second day Wednesday.

People wearing red baseball caps and T-shirts that said "I (heart) HK" helped dismantle a first row of barricades made up mostly of wooden pallets after bailiffs issued a warning to the crowd that they would start enforcing the court-ordered clearance.

Police officers in helmets soon stepped in, using shears to clear further rows of metal barricades while others tore down tents and canopies and carried away other obstructions, including a sofa. Hundreds of other officers advanced slowly along the street while some stood by with backpack pepper sprayers.

Police said that the 116 people arrested as of early Wednesday were held for offences including unlawful assembly and assaulting or obstructing police. One man was arrested for possessing offensive weapons including an axe, hammer and crowbar.

Nine officers were hurt in the scuffles.

The High Court of Hong Kong granted a preliminary injunction to ban demonstrators from occupying roads in Mong Kok on Oct 20 after groups of minibus and taxi operators filed for an injunction that would reopen the paralyzed roads.

The high court extended the injunctions on Oct 27 and secondly extended them on Nov 10.