Hong Kong students demonstrate in front of schools

The slogan of all the groups: "Five key demands, not one less" Human chains of students around schools and on the streets, in memory of young people arrested by the police. So far 1117 arrests have been made. In many schools there is a boycott of lessons. The song "Do you hear the people sing" instead of the Chinese national anthem.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Thousands of students continue to demonstrate in the territory, even after the decision taken yesterday by the head of the executive, Carrie Lam, to permanently withdraw the extradition bill. For many pro-democracy groups and activists Lam's gesture is "too little and too late" and above all does not answer all five demands made by the anti-extradition movement.

These demands - in addition to the withdrawal of the law - asks authroities not describe the violent clashes between protesters and policemen as "revolts"; remove all charges against the demonstrators arrested during the clashes and free them unconditionally; open a full and independent investigation into police actions and the terror unleased by the triads; implement universal suffrage. For this reason, the slogan that is being brandished by all of the groups is "Five important demands, not one less!"

This morning, students and former students of Sai Ying Pun's King's College boycotted lessons by forming a human chain around the school. Also in Tuen Mun, students from four secondary schools propagated a long human chain on the streets of the neighborhood, expressing support for students arrested by the police during the demonstrations. According to data released yesterday by the police, so far have arrested at least 1117 people. These include children as young as 12 years old. There are many young people arrested. In the events that take place in the area, 60% of the participants are under the age of 30. More precisely: 57.7% are under 29; more than 26% between the ages of 20 and 24 (data from the Chinese University of Hong Kong).

Many student groups have decided to boycott the lessons at school, even if not all the students are taking part. The school year began on 3 September and from day one, in Catholic, Protestant and Confucian schools groups of young people demonstrated against the law and in favor of democracy.

Among the most interesting events took place at the Po Leung Kuk Celine Ho Yam Tong College, a secondary school in Kowloon: On the first day of school, at the singing of the Chinese national anthem, the young people sang "Do You Hear the People Sing?", Taken from the musical of the" Miserables ", which became one of the most popular songs during the demonstrations. At the school's hymn, everyone remained silent, to shout at the end: "Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our time!", The most widespread slogan of the anti-extradition movement.