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Kin Cheung / AP
Thousands of protesters turn out outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, on Sept. 7. Parents, teachers and pupils along with activists in the former British colony continued their protest against the government's plan to introduce a new subject "Moral and National Education" into a new curriculum, starting from new school year.
Philippe Lopez / AFP - Getty Images
A child holds a sign as protesters sit near the government's headquarters in Hong Kong on Sept. 7, during a protest against plans to introduce Chinese patriotism classes.
Tyrone Siu / Reuters
A man gets his head shaved as a sign of protest during a demonstration against the launch of national education outside government headquarters in Hong Kong on Sept. 7.
Reuters -- Protests in Hong Kong ahead of an election on Sunday are posing a major test for the city's new leader as voter discontent fueled by anger over perceived meddling by Beijing threatens to shake up the political landscape.
This time round, Hong Kong's legislature will have a more democratic flavor - it has been expanded from 60 to 70 seats, with just over half of them to be directly elected.
But the results are likely to reflect a recent upsurge in anti-China sentiment, which has been exacerbated by a plan for a school curriculum extolling the achievements of the Chinese Communist Party.
Thousands of people have demonstrated outside government headquarters for the past week demanding the school program be scrapped, forcing Leung Chun-ying to cancel what was to have been his first major international engagement as Hong Kong's leader at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Russia.
On Friday evening, the crowds swelled further as tens of thousands of ordinary citizens, many dressed in black, denounced the curriculum as Communist Party propaganda which glossed over the darker aspects of Chinese rule, hitting a nerve in the former British colony that remains proud of its freedoms 15 years after London handed it over to Beijing.
"I am really scared (about) this national education," said a retired fireman in the crowd with his five-year-old grandson. "They really aren't talking the truth. They are telling a lie to the children."
The protests have included hunger strikes and the parading of a replica of the Goddess of Democracy statue which was erected in Beijing's Tiananmen Square during the 1989 demonstrations and crackdown.
Tyrone Siu / Reuters
Thousands protest against the launch of national education in schools outside government headquarters in Hong Kong on Sept. 7.
Kin Cheung / AP
Mother ties a black ribbon on her son's arm to demand withdrawal of the national education plan at a primary school in Hong Kong, on Sept. 7.
Kin Cheung / AP
Students show the placards reading "Withdraw" during a demonstration outside government headquarters in Hong Kong, on Sept. 7.
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truly appreciate NBC for covering this very important event. thank you.
Way to go, people from Hong Kong, I am proud of you!
I'm waiting for Beijing's reaction
I didn't think Beijing's reaction would be too bad until they brought out the goddess of democracy statue. Considering the historical significance behind that statement I'm just waiting for the Chinese tanks to show up now.
I salut thoes brave people. Im suprize they havent been cut off from the world. Well see how this turns out ill be suprized if china won't stomp them down.
we realy are not far from china. they have one party, we just have one more. why not more. cause the demo's and reps don't like to be told what to do out side them selves. even if it is by the very people they are supose to be working for. I think they forgot.
Again the rally was organised by anti-China agitators who despite being Chinese, detest Chinese sovereinty but long for the lost British rule over Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong government as understandable was to implement curriculum that emphasis more on past and present Chinese history to the citizen of Hong Kong,who are ethnically and culturally no difference to Chinese people in the mainland, as part of the citizen education program.
Wake Up HK government! Let the voice to be heard!!!!
Oh big surprise here. The Chinese took over and you thought they would just let things be? Been living under a rock?
Go Hong Kong students and supporter! Say no to brainwashing forever!!