MOSCOW, November 18 (Sputnik) – The Occupy Central movement will hurt the economy of Hong Kong, China's Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said at a Tuesday press conference.
"The so-called 'Occupy Central' movement will have some negative effects on the economy of Hong Kong," Shen Danyang was quoted as saying by the Xinhua news agency. He added that although the effects may not appear immediately, "they will probably show up in the longer term."
Earlier on Tuesday, Hong Kong police began clearing Occupy Central camps in the Mong Kok and Admiralty areas in accordance to High Court rulings issued Monday.
The Occupy Central mass civil disobedience campaign began in late September in Hong Kong, after Beijing announced its plans to appoint the candidates for the 2017 Chief Executive election. Hong Kong business leaders have criticized the protest movement for damaging the business environment in Asia's biggest financial center.
