Hong Kong students gather in their thousands calling for democracy

Thousands of Hong Kong university and school students swapped classes for democracy demonstrations on Monday, the latest act of defiance in an anti-government movement that has plunged the Chinese-ruled city into its biggest political crisis in decades.

Thousands of Hong Kong protesters block roads transport links to airport

Hong Kong police use tear gas to try to disperse protests

The boycott follows a weekend marred by some of the worst violence since unrest escalated more than three months ago, with protesters burning barricades and throwing petrol bombs, and police retaliating with water cannon, tear gas and batons.

Medical staff hold placards after they formed a human chain to express solidarity. Anthony Wallace/AFP

Riot police on Monday patrolled the MTR subway, where some of the most violent clashes have erupted.

Hundreds of students gathered on the hilltop campus of Chinese University, one of Hong Kong's largest, taking turns to make speeches from a stage with a black backdrop embossed with "Students in Unity Boycott for our City".

"I come here just to tell others that even after summer holidays end we are not back to our normal life, we should continue to fight for Hong Kong," said one 19-year-old student who asked to be identified as just Chan.

"These protests awaken me to care more about the society and care for the voiceless."

On the first day of the new school year, secondary students were seen singing, chanting and forming human chains, some wearing hard hats and masks. Many primary schools were closed because of a typhoon warning.

Matthew Cheung, Hong Kong government chief secretary, told reporters that schools were no place for protests.

Students have turned out in significant numbers at recent rallies and were also prominent during the 2014 pro-democracy "Umbrella Movement" that foreshadowed the current unrest.

"It’s very different from what happened back then. People are more mad now," said Summer, a 20-year-old student who only gave his first name.

"I think this situation is a deadlock now. Both government and protesters won’t back down."

Protesters had called for a general strike but most people appeared to return to their daily lives with shops open, trains operating and workers making their way to offices across the global financial hub.

Students attend a school boycott rally at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on Monday. Philip Fong/AFP

Thousands of protesters blocked roads and public transport links to Hong Kong airport on Sunday in a bid to draw world attention to what they see as ever-tighter control by Beijing over the city, despite the promise of autonomy.

Airport authorities said 25 flights were cancelled on Sunday but transport services were largely back to normal.

China denies meddling in Hong Kong's affairs and accuses Western countries of egging on the protests. It says Hong Kong is an internal affair.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang reiterated the central government’s support for Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and her government.

"China’s central government supports chief executive Carrie Lam’s leadership ... to administer in accordance with the law and supports Hong Kong’s police tackling the violence and chaos in accordance with the law to restore order," he told a press briefing.

Students attend a school boycott rally at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on Monday. Philip Fong/AFP

Several editorials in Chinese state media condemned the protesters.

One published by the state news agency Xinhua warned that "the end is coming" for protesters who should "never misjudge the determination and ability of the central government".

Anger at China

After leaving the airport on Sunday, some demonstrators targeted the MTR subway station in nearby Tung Chung district, ripping out turnstiles and smashing CCTV cameras, windows and lamps with metal poles. Police moved in and made several arrests.

Lam, a lightning rod for protesters' anger at a city government they say is controlled by Beijing, said on her Facebook page on Monday that 10 subway stations were damaged by "violent offenders".

Police and protesters had clashed on Saturday night in some of the most intense violence since unrest escalated in mid-June over concerns Beijing is eroding the freedoms granted to the territory under a "one country, two systems" agreement, including the right to protest and an independent judiciary.

John Lee, government secretary for security, told media that nearly 100 petrol bombs were thrown in various locations on Saturday with two found on a 13-year-old boy who was arrested inside an MTR station.

Hospital staff holds placards during a strike at Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong on Sunday. Reuters

The unrest began over a now-suspended extradition bill that would have allowed people in the city to be sent to China for trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party.

The turmoil has evolved over 13 weeks to become a widespread demand for greater democracy. China is eager to quell the unrest before the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1.

With Hong Kong facing its first recession in a decade, China has also warned of the damage the protests are causing to the economy.

Shares of Hong Kong rail operator MTR Corp Ltd fell as much as 3.9% to HK$43.65, their lowest since Feb. 15.

With protesters and authorities locked in an impasse, speculation has grown that the city government may impose emergency law, giving it extra powers over detentions, censorship and curfews.

Lam has said the government would consider using all laws at its disposal to bring unrest to an end.

Reuters