Update | Students’ declaration says strike over political reform is ‘final warning to the regime’

The University of Hong Kong’s student union has called on students to co-sign the “Declaration of the Students’ Strike” which demands open elections in 2016 and 2017.

“The student strike is our last warning to the regime. If they continue to act against the public will, we will step up to stronger disobedience action,” the declaration reads. “We are determined to stand firm and hold on to our belief…not just for our time, but the many generations to come.”

Students are expected to boycott classes in mid-September in protest at Beijing’s decision to impose tough restrictions on the 2017 chief executive election.

Potential candidates that the central government does not want on the ballot will be screened out by a nominating committee on national security grounds.

The HKU student union said they hoped to raise awareness of the importance of democracy with the strike, which is expected to be a precursor to acts of civil disobedience.

The declaration demands that the central and local governments offer a democratic plan for the 2016 Legislative Council elections and the 2017 chief executive vote. It calls for the public to be allowed to nominate candidates in 2017 and for all Legco seats to be directly elected in 2016.