Hong Kong barricades taken down by police

Police are set to let traffic flow again at protest sites in a busy area of Hong Kong after clearing lanes at two of three sites in an orderly and violence-free operation.

The force is preparing to return Kowloon's busiest intersection to the general public, Chief Superintendent Stephen Hui said, after police reopened tramlines and traffic lanes on Hong Kong island on Tuesday.

Following a pledge to reopen the major east-west traffic artery with minimal force, officers with chainsaws and sledge hammers made quick work of the ramparts protestors built on Monday evening.