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Image of Asia: Last of Hong Kong pro-democracy protests gone

Pro-democracy protesters sit at their tent outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 24, 2015. Hong Kong authorities clear out a protest camp outside the city's government headquarters and legislature complex. Workers moved in on Wednesday to take down tents and other structures and belongings at the camp, which was the last vestige of the pro-democracy movement that erupted last September that saw activists occupy streets for 79 days. Most of the remaining protesters abandoned the camp after lawmakers on June 18 defeated a government plan to introduce an election blueprint that included screening of candidates by a Beijing-friendly panel. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Pro-democracy protesters sit at their tent outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Wednesday, June 24, 2015. Hong Kong authorities clear out a protest camp outside the city's government headquarters and legislature complex. Workers moved in on Wednesday to take down tents and other structures and belongings at the camp, which was the last vestige of the pro-democracy movement that erupted last September that saw activists occupy streets for 79 days. Most of the remaining protesters abandoned the camp after lawmakers on June 18 defeated a government plan to introduce an election blueprint that included screening of candidates by a Beijing-friendly panel. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

By Associated Press June 24, 2015 1 min read

In this photo by Kin Cheung, pro-democracy protesters sit at their tent outside Hong Kong government headquarters before authorities removed the camp that was the last vestige of the street protests that erupted last September. The Lands Department said it removed 27 tents and marquees Wednesday, the deadline for clearing out the camp. Tens of thousands of activists occupied downtown streets at the peak of the protests against a Beijing-backed election plan, and most of the last few protesters left after Hong Kong lawmakers rejected the election plan on June 18. The vote vindicated the activists, but Hong Kong and Beijing officials have said, regardless of the defeat, that election candidates still would be handpicked by a 1,200-member panel of local elites.