13 October 2014 Last updated at 23:48 ET
Hundreds of police have used chainsaws and bolt-cutters to dismantle barricades put up by pro-democracy activists near the government offices in Hong Kong.
They also re-opened a main thoroughfare in Causeway Bay, a shopping district.
It is the second day of operations which police say are to ease traffic disruption, not clear the protesters.
Demonstrators have occupied parts of Hong Kong for more than two weeks.
The activists, a mix of students and a pro-democracy group called Occupy Central, are demanding a fully democratic election in 2017.
China, which has control over Hong Kong, says residents can vote – but it will vet which candidates are eligible to stand.
Protesters set up barricades again after police removed them in Causeway Bay district in Hong Kong Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014.
Protesters reinforced their barricades after the first removal operation on Monday
On Monday, scuffles broke out between those opposed to the Occupy movement and demonstrators after police removed some barricades in Central district.
Men wearing surgical masks charged at the barricades and tried to remove them.
In a similar clash at the protest site in Mong Kok 10 days ago police said some of those involved had triad backgrounds.
Democratic Party lawmaker Albert Ho told AFP news agency on Monday that this was “one of the tactics used by the communists in mainland China from time to time. They use triads or pro-government mobs to try to attack you so the government will not have to assume responsibility”.
Later on Monday protesters reinforced their barricades, building bamboo barriers and cement foundations.
Police officers stand guard after removing barricades that protesters have set up to block off main roads in Causeway Bay district in Hong Kong
Stores in the busy shopping area of Causeway Bay have been hit by the protests
On Tuesday, police arrived with bolt cutters, chainsaws and sledgehammers. Local media said they were using the chainsaw to cut through the bamboo barriers.
“To ensure public safety and maintain public order, police have to take necessary action to remove the barriers at the occupied spots so that traffic can be partially resumed,” police said in a statement.
Some protesters were visibly distressed. “We are only residents and students,” one protestor shouted according to AFP. “We will leave as we are unable to fight you but we will not give up.”
At the start of the protests last month thousands of people were on the streets, with hundreds sleeping there overnight. However, numbers have dwindled in recent days.
Over the weekend, Hong Kong’s embattled leader CY Leung said the protestors had zero chance of changing Beijing’s mind on constitutional reform.
He added that the protest movement had spun out of control.
