Traffic largely restored in Hong Kong's Mong Kok district

Workers clean the main Nathan Road at Mongkok shopping district, after police cleared a protest site which has occupied the street for weeks, in Hong Kong, November 26, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

HONG KONG -- Traffic along the main roads of Hong Kong's Mong Kok district began flowing again Wednesday afternoon after bailiffs cleared barricades and tents erected by demonstrators in Nathan Road.

The clearance operation, which took slightly more than three hours, followed a smaller one to reopen Argyle Street on Tuesday.

Bailiffs and agents of minibus and taxi drivers' associations removed wooden and metal barricades, tents and other obstructions in Nathan Road, which had been blocked since late September.

Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok called on protesters to leave the area as soon as possible and not to obstruct law-enforcement staff from carrying out their duties.

He added that Hong Kong police have strong determination to restore traffic and social order.

The High Court of Hong Kong granted a preliminary injunction to ban demonstrators from occupying roads in Mong Kok on Oct 20 after groups of minibus and taxi operators filed for an injunction that would reopen the paralyzed roads.

The high court extended the injunctions on Oct 27 and secondly extended them on Nov 10.