As protests ebb and flow, Hong Kong activists bank on creativity

Notifications for the "War Room" WhatsApp group ping relentlessly as an organiser of Hong Kong's biggest political rallies in decades explains the challenge of keeping an exhausted, battle-weary protest movement on the streets.

The semi-autonomous city is in its third month of pro-democracy demonstrations, as Chinese rhetoric against them hardens.

"We're mentally and physically strained, (but) we're still here," said Bonnie Leung, 32, one of the few public faces of the avowedly leaderless movement.

"We're talking about saving our home. The campaign is too important for us."