HONG KONG, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's police said they arrested 45 people on Wednesday morning as they cleared Lung Wo Road in Admiralty. Traffic has been resumed on the road as of press time.
Thirty-seven men and eight women were detained for illegal assembly and obstructing the police.
There were chaotic scenes during the clear-out operation on early Wednesday morning as officers scuffled with demonstrators, wrestled some to the ground and forced others off the road. The police had to fire pepper spray during violent clashes with the protesters.
A large number of protesters outside the Chief Executive's Office were also moved into Tamar Park.
Some people complained they had been injured by the police during the operation, while four officers were hurt.
Lung Wo Road was occupied on Tuesday night by hundreds of protesters, who forced riot police to retreat to the compound of the CE's office.
In a briefing shortly before the police began their action early Wednesday morning, the force said they had to clear the road as it was a major thoroughfare.
The police said the protesters had caused severe traffic congestion, and endangered their own safety, and that of other road users.
After the clearance operation, which took less than an hour, a large number of people continued a stand-off with police in Tamar Park.
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