China's central government said Friday it supports the Hong Kong government and police decision to clear the Occupy protest sites and roads.

The central government "fully agrees with and firmly supports" the Hong Kong government and police in stopping these illegal activities, thereby maintaining social order and safeguarding the rule of law, said a statement from the State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office.

Hong Kong authorities cleared Occupy sites in Admiralty Thursday, and traffic in front of the government headquarters was moving again before midnight.

Protestors in the Occupy Central movement had erected a traffic barricade in downtown Hong Kong, seriously undermining Hong Kong's social order, economy, democratic progress and rule of law, the statement said.

"We have noticed that the clearance operation was well received and welcomed by the residents of Hong Kong," the statement said.

The statement reiterated that the central government will continue implementing the "one country, two systems" policy and the Basic Law as well as supporting Hong Kong's democratic progress.

"We hope that Hong Kong society will engage in rational and pragmatic discussion and build a consensus about political development within the boundaries of the Basic Law and decisions adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (China's top legislature)," it said.

The central government expects Hong Kong to continue following the "five-step" process to universal suffrage in the election of the region's next chief executive in 2017.

Since Sept. 28, the Occupy protest has caused serious traffic disruption, fewer tourists, temporary school and bank closures, and a slump in local stock market trading. There has also been a series of clashes between protesters and police.

The Occupy protest has not won the favor of the Hong Kong people, the statement continued.

It urged Hong Kong to "learn from this experience" and think calmly about the future.

The people of Hong Kong should better understand and implement the "one country, two systems" principles, it said.

Hong Kong should make it a fundamental principle to safeguard the country's sovereignty, security and development and maintain long-term stability and prosperity in Hong Kong, the statement said.

The region should seize the opportunities presented by reform and economic development, maintain and give play to Hong Kong's unique advantages to advance economic development, people's lives, democracy and social harmony in the region, the statement said.

Huang Yiyu, executive deputy director of the Central Institute of Socialism, said the illegal Occupy activities damaged Hong Kong's democracy and rule of law, and affected the implementation of the "one
country, two systems." He added that the clearance complied with the Hong Kong people's will.

The clearance is an important move to ensure the national security and thwarted some people's attempt to grab the right of governance in the region, according to Chen Yonghua with China Law Society.

Zhang Keyun from Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, said that her October visit had been disrupted by the Occupy movement. "Because of the movement, many stores shut, the transportation was not good, and I was worried about my personal safety," She added that a stable social order is the basic premise for Hong Kong to attract more tourists.

Thursday's clearance met little resistance, and many protesters left the Occupy sites peacefully, but there were protesters who ignored the police's appeal. About 200 were arrested.