Thousands join Hong Kong student rally demanding greater democracy
- 10 years ago
A call for democracy in Hong Kong.
Thousands of students gather at the Chinese University of Hong Kong to mark the beginning of a week-long boycott of classes in protest against Beijing's plans for the territory's democratic reform.
The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with a high degree of autonomy. But last month Beijing rejected demands for people to freely choose the city's next leader, prompting threats from activists to shut down the central finance district as part of their pro-democracy campaign.
Students are doing what they can.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, THIRD YEAR STUDENT, SUNNY CHAN, SAYING:
"Because there is simply no other way for us to respond as a student. I've been to many demonstrations and protests in Hong Kong and I think this is the last thing we can do to voice our stance for universal suffrage."
The wave of protests is expected to culminate in a blockade by the Occupy Central movement of
Thousands of students gather at the Chinese University of Hong Kong to mark the beginning of a week-long boycott of classes in protest against Beijing's plans for the territory's democratic reform.
The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with a high degree of autonomy. But last month Beijing rejected demands for people to freely choose the city's next leader, prompting threats from activists to shut down the central finance district as part of their pro-democracy campaign.
Students are doing what they can.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, THIRD YEAR STUDENT, SUNNY CHAN, SAYING:
"Because there is simply no other way for us to respond as a student. I've been to many demonstrations and protests in Hong Kong and I think this is the last thing we can do to voice our stance for universal suffrage."
The wave of protests is expected to culminate in a blockade by the Occupy Central movement of