HONG KONG (AP) — Hundreds of Hong Kong police officers have moved in to clear pro-democracy protesters out of a tunnel outside the city’s government headquarters.

Officers, many of them in riot gear and wielding pepper spray, tore down barricades in and around the underpass early Wednesday.

The operation came hours after a large group of protesters blockaded the tunnel.

They outnumbered the police officers, who later returned with reinforcements to clear the area.

Local television broadcast live footage of the operation and its aftermath, with officers taking away dozens of protesters.

Democracy protesters have occupied key parts of the city for more than two weeks to pressure the government over curbs recommended by Beijing on democratic reforms.

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