Hong Kong students boycott classes in protest over democracy

Thousands of students in Hong Kong have launched a protest over China's plans to vet candidates for the region's next election, beginning their planned week-long protest with a rally at a major university.

Students from two dozen schools across Hong Kong began a week-long boycott with a rally on the campus of Chinese University of Hong Kong, where they demanded that Beijing withdraw its election reform plan and issue an 'apology to the Hong Kong people.' (AAP/JEROME FAVRE)

Students from more than 20 universities and colleges braved sweltering heat in Hong Kong to demand greater democracy. They are boycotting their first week of classes in protest against China's framework for the election of Hong Kong's leader in 2017. There are reports at least 13,000 people have converged on the grounds of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Sunny Chan is one of the students taking part in the rallies this week. He says boycotting class is the only option left to make his voice heard. 

"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," he said. 

Many students believe the protest is the start of a campaign of civil disobedience.  

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with a high degree of autonomy. But last month China rejected demands for people to freely choose the former British colony's next leader. It has prompted threats from activists to shut down the central finance district as part of their pro-democracy campaign.

Alex Chow is the leader of the Hong Kong Federation of Students. He says neither the Hong Kong nor Chinese governments can take away people's rights. 

"We are willing to pay the price for democracy. No-one can take away people's entitled right. No-one. Not the SAR [Hong Kong Special Administrative Region] government and of course not the NPC [Beijing's National People's Congress]," he said.

Leading academics in Hong Kong have voiced their support for the boycott, with some offering to record lectures and post them online for students to watch later.

The protest launch coincided with a trip to Beijing by some of Hong Kong's most powerful business tycoons, during which they discussed Hong Kong politics with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

President Xi appears unlikely to give in to the demands of democracy activists. Mr Xi told the business leaders the policy of "one country, two systems", adopted by the Chinese government to reunite Hong Kong and China, will not change.

Hong Kong has seen a series of rallies this summer over the issue of electoral reform, underscoring the difficulties China faces in shaping its vision for the Hong Kong's political future.