(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
Thousands of students in Hong Kong have launched a lengthy protest over China's plans to vet candidates for the city's next election.
They accuse China of reneging on its commitment to allow greater democracy in the former British colony.
The students have begun a week-long rally at a university in protest.
Zara Zaher reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
Students from more than 20 universities and colleges have 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.
This student says the protest is the start of a campaign of civil disobedience.
"We think that this kind of student strike is the beginning of a new era. I think it is kind of a new form of social engagement, we hope that we can see democracy in our time."
The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with a high degree of autonomy.
But China last month rejected demands for people to freely choose Hong Kong's next leader.
It has prompted threats from activists to shut down the central finance district as part of their pro-democracy campaign.
Leader of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, Alex Chow, 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)."
Student Sunny Chan says he is boycotting class because it is the only option left to make his voice heard.
"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."
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, where 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 city's political future.
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