Hong Kong police stood guard as workers dismantled the main pro-democracy protest camp around the government headquarters in the former British colony’s Admiralty District.  It marks the end of this phase of thus far unsuccessful efforts to get Beijing to allow a fully free election for Hong Kong’s next leader.

Business interests succeeded in getting a court order to put an end to the blocked streets around shopping districts and government facilities.  No clashes have been reported, but at some point the police will take over the operation – likely when most of the tents and taken down, and only the hardcore protesters remain.  Some of the remaining protesters did say they expected to be arrested.

The number of protesters had fallen to only a few hundred, as opposed to the tens of thousands who were on the streets in September.  Public support has dropped, as many wanted to get back to work or in their shops. 

But the protesters had signs reading, “We’ll be back”, and “Only the beginning”.  And protest leaders say the issue of who gets to run for Hong Kong chief executive in 2017 – approved by the government, as Beijing wants; or a free ballot open to all candidates – has not been decided.

“If the government wants to use police to clear the site, don’t forget, the clearance can't resolve political conflicts, it can’t resolve society’s dilemma,” said Joshua Wong, leader of the Scholarism student group.