Hong Kong pro-democracy Protests

Thousands of students in Hong Kong have converged on a university campus to begin a week-long boycott of classes. They are protesting against Chinas stance on electoral reform in the territory. Students from more than two dozen institutions are taking part. It is a prelude to a larger protest on 1 October planned by pro-democracy group Occupy Central. Beijing has rejected open nominations for the citys leadership poll, dashing hopes of those seeking full democracy. Most are wearing white T-shirts with yellow ribbons - a colour adopted by pro-democracy activists.

The boycott is being organised by groups such as the Hong Kong Federation of Students and Scholarism. Student activists are also organising a series of rallies and public lectures in a park near government offices later in the week. About 400 academics and non-teaching staff are also taking part in support of the students, according to the South China Morning Post. A larger pro-democracy protest is due to take place next month. Occupy Central has pledged to stage a sit-in at Hong Kongs financial district, which critics have said may shut down the area. The issue of how Hong Kong can choose its leader gripped the city in recent months, sparking protests from both the pro-democracy and pro-Beijing camps.

The Chinese government has promised direct elections for Hong Kongs leader, the chief executive, by 2017. But in August, it ruled that voters would only have a choice from a list of two or three candidates selected by a nominating committee. Democracy activists say China will use this committee to screen out candidates it disapproves of. Pro-Beijing activists, meanwhile, believe the other camp is disrupting Hong Kongs peace and stability.

The protesting students say Beijings decision does not amount to the greater democracy Hong Kong was promised when it was handed back from Britain to China in 1997.

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