Environmental/Documentary

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.

"The BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong says the protests had given a boost to pro-democracy legislators hoping to win a landmark election on Sunday.

The government's surprise announcement has led some to speculate it is a move directly timed to influence that election in favour of pro-government legislators, our correspondent says.

Mr Leung, who was sworn in as Hong Kong's chief executive in July, cancelled his trip to the Apec regional summit this weekend because of the furore.

Freedom

The proposed curriculum, which consisted of general civics education as well as more controversial lessons on appreciating mainland China, was due to be introduced in primary schools in September and secondary schools in 2013.

According to AFP news agency, course material funded by the government extolled the benefits of one-party rule, equated multi-party democracy to chaos, and glossed over events like the Tiananmen Square crackdown and the mass starvation of Mao Zedong's regime.

A survey released last week suggested 69% of students opposed the classes.

The climbdown came a day after activists said more than 100,000 protesters had rallied at government headquarters. Police put the turnout at 36,000.

Unlike the rest of China, Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of freedom, including a free press, the right to assemble and transparent, accountable institutions.

Our correspondent says the row is the latest example of the cultural, social and political gap that exists between Hong Kong and its mainland masters.

It also highlights the deep suspicion with which many Hong Kong people continue to regard the Chinese government, she adds."

This protest happened in University of Melbourne, the Hong Kong Student Association arranged this to support the protesters in Hong Kong.