Indefatigable college students

Formed by students from across eight colleges, Hong Kong Federation of Students (香港專上學生聯會) plans to boycott classes for one week starting on the 22nd September. The students are protesting over the stern August 31st decision by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (中國全國人大常委會) to censor candidates for the territory's 2017 Election of Hong Kong's Chief Executive.

With an annual university enrollment rate at around only 18 per cent – fifteen thousand people – the small number of college places available in Hong Kong means that most students tend to be outstanding achievers. In addition to high expectations from parents, a sense of social mission bears considerable weight on student’s shoulders, especially in public affairs and driving societal change. Over the past few years, Hong Kong students have played a pivotal role in opposing the implementation of a national curriculum and fighting for democratic elections. The anti-democratic, anti-public opinion stance taken by China’s NPC has stirred the people into disobedience. Boycotting classes may not change the final decision of China’s government, but the force of Hong Kong university students fighting for democracy will no doubt slowly permeate into society, bringing with it the potent force of indefatigability.

URL:https://www.peopo.org/news/254381

(以下為中文對照)

不認命的大學生

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由八所公立大學學生會組成的香港專上學生聯會，決定在9月22日起，罷課一週，抗議中國全國人大常委會於8月31日，對2017年香港行政長官選舉，採取篩選候選人的嚴厲辦法。

香港每年的大學升學率都維持在百分之十八左右，約一萬五千人。因爲人數少，香港的大學生通常是天之驕子，除了父母的期待，他們也肩負相當的社會使命，尤其是參與公共事務，或帶動社會改革。過去幾年，從2012年反對實施國民教育課程，到爭取民主普選，香港的大學生都扮演了重要的角色。中國人大的反民主、反民意的決定，激起他們抗命的意志。罷課，不會改變中國政府的一錘定音，但香港大學生力爭民主，至少為日漸沉淪的社會，帶來一股不認命的力量。