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Hong Kong police clear protest sites, arrest student leaders

Eighteen-year-old Joshua Wong, one of the high-profile student leaders of the movement, was among the 116 arrested early Wednesday at the Mong Kok site

By JC Finley
Pro-democracy activists and police scuffle outside the Chief Executive's office in downtown Hong Kong on October 2, 2014. UPI/Stephen Shaver
1 of 2 | Pro-democracy activists and police scuffle outside the Chief Executive's office in downtown Hong Kong on October 2, 2014. UPI/Stephen Shaver | License Photo

HONG KONG, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Hong Kong police cleared one of the largest protest sites Wednesday and arrested 116 pro-democracy demonstrators, including three of the movement's student leaders.

Following an evening of clashes between police and protesters, police took down barricades and tents at the Mong Kok protest camp Wednesday, allowing traffic to flow through the streets by Wednesday afternoon for the first time since demonstrations began two months ago.

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Eighteen-year-old Joshua Wong, one of the high-profile student leaders of the movement, was among the 116 arrested early Wednesday at the Mong Kok site. The Hong Kong Federation of Students confirmed that student leaders Lester Shum and Jason Szeto were also arrested.

Prior to his arrest, Shum told CNN "We will still conduct our civil disobedience action until the last second, until the plaintiffs or the police arrest us."

Protests began Sept. 26 to voice objection to Beijing's plans to allow only approved candidates to run for office in Hong Kong's 2017 elections, regarding the move as a violation of China's "one country, two systems" agreement providing Hong Kong with a specified but ill-defined "high degree of autonomy."

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