Hong Kong Police Disperse Protest, Arrest 12 Demonstratos

Mass demonstration took place in Hong Kong on Wednesday night for the first time since previous protests were dispersed on December 15.

MOSCOW, December 25 (Sputnik) — Law enforcement officials have dispersed a hundreds-strong protest in Hong Kong and arrested 12 demonstrators, the city's police department said in official statement Thursday.

"They caused chaos and blocked the roads. … Police, with no other alternatives, used the minimum level of force and took resolute actions, including using pepper spray and batons to stop the unlawful acts, and to disperse and arrest the protesters involved," the statement said.

According to the police, the detained were charged with assaulting a police officer and disorderly conduct in a public place.

The mass demonstration that took place late Wednesday night was the first in a week. The previous protest in Hong Kong was dispersed on December 15.

The wave of Occupy Central protests for free and fully democratic elections started in September, after Beijing revealed its plans to control the appointment of candidates running for chief executive in Hong Kong's 2017 elections, despite an earlier pledge to allow free and democratic elections.