Hong Kong's leader says he is ready to start talks as soon as next week with leaders of the pro-democracy protests that have rocked the territory for nearly three weeks.

Chief executive Leung Chun-ying said officials have been negotiating with the students through middlemen in the past few days, and authorities are ready to hold talks on democratic reform.

Authorities angered protesters last week when they called off a scheduled meeting with student leaders, saying talks were unlikely to produce constructive results.

The demonstrators have taken to the streets since September 26 to oppose the Chinese central government's decision to screen candidates to run in the territory's first direct elections in 2017.

Mr Leung's announcement came after police again scuffled with protesters camped out in Hong Kong's streets.

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