Protest in Hong Kong over activist's election ban

Hong Kong

PROTESTERS in Hong Kong gathered outside the government's headquarters on Sunday evening after a leading pro-democracy activist was barred from standing as a candidate in upcoming elections.

The ban on 21-year-old Agnes Chow, who was at the forefront of mass 2014 Umbrella Movement rallies calling for political reform, is the latest blow for the democracy camp and another sign that Beijing is tightening its grip on the semi-autonomous city.

It reflects China's increasing anger over what it sees as any challenge to its sovereignty from activists, some…