The final push: police finalise plans to clear Hong Kong streets of Occupy protesters
Thursday is likely target day for thousands of officers to clear remaining Admiralty and Causeway Bay sites after 72 days of occupation
More than 3,000 police officers could be deployed to clear the biggest Occupy camp in Admiralty and the protest zone in Causeway Bay on the same day this week, according to police sources.
The clearance is likely to take place on Thursday. Details of the operation will be finalised after a meeting with a plaintiff and bailiffs today, one police source said yesterday.
"Police will clear the entire [Admiralty] site, including areas that are not covered in the injunction order," the source said. "We aim to clear all occupied roads and reopen traffic."
It is likely that police will hold a press conference this afternoon to appeal to activists to leave the protest zones. "Police will then give protesters some time to pack their belongings and leave the sites before officers move in," the source said.
He added that police would also clear the Causeway Bay site on the same day, if possible. Police recently estimated that the number of protesters remaining in Causeway Bay was less than 50.
Separately, Legislative Council staff handed out notices to protesters asking them to leave the area around the council building as soon as possible, another sign that action might be imminent.