Scuffles broke out in Hong Kong as police arrested pro-democracy demonstrators who refused to obey a court order to clear a protest site in the city’s Mong Kok district.

Demonstrators at ‘Occupy Central’ are demanding public nomination of candidates for Hong Kong’s leadership post ahead of government elections in three years.

China insists on approving a list of prospects for the chief executive position.

“If I’m arrested and sent to prison, the sacrifice I make will be much bigger than protesting on the streets,” explained 78-year-old protester Boon-Duk Ng, “I would like to make bigger sacrifices.”

Protesters had blocked traffic from flowing through Hong Kong’s Mong Kok district for two months, sparking anger from local businesses.

The standoff has continued with no end in sight as neither the government nor the student-led protesters have shown any willingness to compromise.

To prevent the protests spreading to mainland China, Beijing has reportedly blocked media coverage of Occupy Central.