Politely Done

Hong Kong Clears Protest Area

Authorities meet no resistance.

Hong Kong authorities worked to clear pro-democracy protesters from a site in the Admiralty district of the former British colony Tuesday morning, in the first move against the demonstrators in weeks. The authorities met no resistance, with student protesters saying they would not oppose the court order—and even helping to take down some barriers. Dozens of bailiffs wearing black vests, backed by the police, supervised the removal of barricades in a small section of the main protest area around the Citic Tower after some officials read aloud a court injunction. The operation’s timing was no surprise, because it was announced ahead of time. Demonstrators had largely vacated the area, and the police, unlike in past operations against the movement, did not wear riot gear.