Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong was barred Tuesday from standing in an upcoming local election, after months of huge and frequently violent protests in the city.

Wong, one of the most prominent figures in the otherwise leaderless and faceless movement, accused the government of "political screening" after an election officer ruled his nomination for the November poll invalid.

"I strongly condemn the government for conducting political screening and censorship, depriving me of my political rights," he said in a statement on his Facebook page.

In response to media enquiries, a government spokesman said Wong's nomination was declared invalid as he advocates "self-determination" for Hong Kong, which is inconsistent with the Basic Law, the city's mini-constitution.

"The candidate cannot possibly comply with the requirements of the relevant electoral laws," the spokesman added.

Hong Kong has been battered by nearly five months of pro-democracy protests which Beijing and its local leaders have taken a hard line against.

Millions have hit the streets, with hardcore activists clashing repeatedly with police, in the biggest challenge to China's rule since the city's handover from Britain in 1997.

Wong, 22, is one of the most well-known pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong today after becoming the poster child of the huge pro-democracy "Umbrella Movement" protests of 2014 that failed to win any concessions from Beijing.

Wong and his party, Demosisto, have denied supporting independence for the city.

Any talk of independence incenses Beijing as Chinese President Xi Jinping increasingly emphasises the importance of territorial integrity.

The government spokesman denied any political censorship in the decision to disqualify Wong.

"There is no question of any political censorship, restriction of the freedom of speech or deprivation of the right to stand for elections as alleged by some members of the community."

But the decision sparked criticism that it could intensify the ongoing protests.

"When you keep rigging the only -- and lowest level -- elections on offer, you're going to make many in #HongKong... conclude that the only way to be heard is on the streets," Maya Wang, Senior China Researcher for Human Rights Watch, said on Twitter.

Last year, Agnes Chow, another young pro-democracy leader from Wong's party, was barred from standing in by-elections because her party advocates self-determination for Hong Kong.

In 2016 and 2017, the city's courts ousted six pro-democracy lawmakers for breaches in their swearing-in ceremony and in their oaths of allegiance, a move backed by Beijing. Two of the ousted lawmakers advocated separatism from mainland China.

Hong Kong police fire tear gas at protesters on harbourfront
Hong Kong (AFP) Oct 27, 2019 - Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets on Sunday at pro-democracy protesters who defied authorities to hold a rally on Hong Kong's scenic harbourfront, the latest flashpoint in months of political unrest gripping the city.

Clouds of acrid smoke wafted across streets usually packed with tourists, including outside the landmark colonial-era Peninsula Hotel, as protesters and police clashed in what has become a weekly ritual.

Many of the protesters wore masks, defying a recent emergency law banning face coverings. But few of those involved in the early clashes had protective helmets and respirators used by more hardcore frontliners.

Tensions built early on Sunday afternoon as riot police flooded the harbourside park in Tsim Sha Tsui district where the unsanctioned rally was due to take place.

Officers stopped and searched numerous people, sparking confrontations as the crowds got bigger, many of them shouting "black cops" and "triads" at the police.

Tear gas, pepper spray and some rubber bullets were fired in at least three different locations as clashes broke out and crowds scattered.

Small groups of hardcore protesters then built barricades and blocked roads in a familiar game of cat and mouse with police.

Some used metal fencing from nearby luxury malls to block the "Avenue of Stars", a famous waterfront promenade.

Police said some of their officers were attacked with "hard objects and umbrellas".

Later in the evening police fired water cannon at protesters in Tsim Sha Tsui as they faced crowds yelling insults at them.

- Months of unrest -

Hong Kong has been battered by nearly five months of huge and frequently violent pro-democracy protests which Beijing and its local leaders have taken a hard line against.

With no political solution on the table, the city's police have been largely left to deal with the protesters, becoming increasingly loathed by the pro-democracy demonstrators.

Hardcore protesters have hurled petrol bombs and bricks, vandalised pro-Beijing businesses and assaulted people who disagree with them.

Prominent pro-democracy figures have also found themselves the targets of attacks by gangs of men, decimating the international finance hub's once solid reputation for stability and safety.

In a blog published on Sunday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan warned that the city may post negative growth this year because of the protests.

"It seems that it is extremely difficult to achieve the forecast of zero to one percent," he wrote.

In the last few days, protests have not been as large or violent as earlier this month when some of the most sustained clashes took place.

But smaller "flashmob" protests have remained a near daily phenomenon.

"It may look like less people are coming out but it's just that everyone is using different methods to support the movement," said a 23-year-old protester, who gave her surname Chan.

A teenaged protester, who declined to give his name, said many felt they had to keep hitting the streets because few of their demands had been met.

"Without genuine universal suffrage and democracy, this will happen again and we will have to fight again in the future," he said.

"I do worry about being arrested. But I have prepared my last words and have left them at home," he said.

Among the demands from protesters are an independent inquiry into the police, an amnesty for the more than 2,500 arrested and fully free elections -- all of which have been refused by Beijing and chief executive Carrie Lam.

The one concession made so far has been to scrap a widely loathed plan to allow extraditions to the mainland -- an issue that sparked record-breaking protests earlier in the year before the movement morphed into a wider anti-government revolt.

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China detains journalist who covered Hong Kong protests: sources
Beijing (AFP) Oct 24, 2019
A Chinese journalist who covered democracy protests in Hong Kong has been detained after returning to the mainland, sources with direct knowledge of the situation told AFP on Thursday. Huang Xueqin, who became known for her support of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment in China last year, had travelled to Hong Kong this summer. She had written at least two reports about the protests that have plunged the semi-autonomous city into crisis for nearly five months. When Huang returned ... read more