Update | ‘Occupy is over’: Hong Kong chief executive announces end to protests as Causeway Bay is cleared

Hong Kong’s leader declared an end to 78 days of mass protests by pro-democracy demonstrators after police today cleared the last major camp and arrested 17 peaceful  protesters.

“With the completion of the clearance work in the occupation site in Causeway Bay, the illegal occupation action that has lasted for more than two months in Hongkong is over,"  Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said, adding that they had caused a “serious loss” to the local economy and damaged the rule of law.

“Now I think we should reflect on an important issue. That is, what is the kind of democracy that Hong Kong should pursue? I think it should be ‘democracy with the rule of law' that Hong Kong, as well as other advanced democracies, are pursuing,” said Leung, speaking to reporters after a ceremony of a local foundation.

“If we only talk about democracy, but not rule of law. It is not true democracy. It is only anarchy,” he added.

The last blow was when security guards cleared a small pro-democracy camp outside the Legislative Council that demonstrators had already retreated from.

A total of 955 people had been arrested as of today for offences relating to the Occupy protests.,police said on Monday night. Some 130 police officers were injured during the protests and 221 protesters received medical treatment through arrangements made by police.

Police received complaints from 1,972 members of the public, of which 106 have been classified as reportable complaints to be put under police watchdog's scrutiny. Most complaints involve neglect of duty and unnecessary use of authority.