News Digest

Hong Kong students take democracy strike to government HQ

Hong Kong students took their anti-Beijing strike to government headquarters Tuesday, with hundreds gathering at the harbourside complex to protest China’s refusal to grant full democracy to the city. There were scuffles with security personnel as a group of students rushed towards Hong Kong’s leader, chief executive Leung Chun-ying, when he emerged from the building after holding a press conference. Alex Chow, chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Students and one of the activists who ran up to Leung, threatened an escalation of the protest action if he refuses to speak with students within 48 hours.

Someone needs to take the lead in showing the government they’re wrong, and this time it’s up to the students.

Theatre student Ryan Lo, 19

Organisers said 13,000 university students massed at a northern campus on Monday to launch a week-long boycott of classes. Activists have said the student protest marks the start of a campaign of civil disobedience to protest China’s plan to vet nominees for the leadership of the former British colony, dashing hopes for full universal suffrage at the 2017 polls. Tensions in Hong Kong are at their highest in years, fuelled by rising inequality as well as Beijing’s perceived political interference in the affairs of the semi-autonomous territory.