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More protests over HK ‘national education’ row
Thousands protested outside government headquarters in Hong Kong on Monday, amid a row over a controversial national education programme.
The protesters accuse the government of trying to brainwash students with pro-China education and want the programme to be scrapped.
But the government says it is about building national pride and identity.
Protests have been rumbling for months, but built over the weekend before the start of the new school year.
A small number of activists have been taking part in hunger strikes.
The government wants schools to introduce the programme now and plans to make it compulsory by 2016.
But protesters - who comprise parents, students and teachers - say its core aim is to bolster support for China’s communist rulers.
They have highlighted a government booklet that they say glorifies Communist Party rule in China while ignoring sensitive issues.
Some 8,000 people joined Monday night’s protest, reports said.
Pictured: Protesters gather on Monday, urging the government to abandon its plan
