Playing Hooky

Hong Kong Students Boycott Classes

In bid for more democracy.

What is expected to ultimately be thousands of university students in Hong Kong began a one-week boycott of classes Monday as part of what activists say will be a wider civil-disobedience campaign against China, which has refused to grant full suffrage to the former British colony. Democracy advocates in the special administrative region were incensed last month when China announced that candidates for the city’s top job, chief executive, would have to be vetted by a committee loyal to Beijing. Democracy activists are demanding free and open nominations. How well the boycott fares will depend on participation and support. Some 400 university academics and staff have signed a petition asking for public support.