Youngsters and senior citizens took to the streets on Saturday morning, saying they were out to safeguard Hong Kong’s future and urging police to “lay down their offensive weapons”.
On a day when temperatures topped 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), hundreds of senior citizens walked for two hours from police headquarters in Wan Chai, to the Secretary for Justice’s Office and the Chief Executive’s Office in Admiralty to submit their petition letters.
In Edinburgh Place in Central, the scene of many clashes between police and protesters, prams and balloons replaced helmets and gas masks at the “Protect Children’s Future” rally.
The event was organised by a group of parents who wanted to make their concerns known to the government in a safe setting.
“We want to make sure our children can grow up to publish any books they want and surf the internet freely,” Wai Ming Ng, one of the organisers, said.
Ching Leung, one of the “silver-haired citizens” marching from Wan Chai to Admiralty, said she was taking part as she was too slow for the major protests.
“I went to some protests over the past few months,” said the 64-year-old retired secondary schoolteacher. “But as I get old, my legs are not as fast. I shouldn’t block the way of the protesters on the front line.
“Carrie Lam is almost the worst chief executives ever. She thinks she is of the elite, but she has chosen the most harmful way to rule Hong Kong.”
The event, initiated by a group of eight people over the age of 40, was organised on messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram, the latter of which is becoming more popular among the older generation, said Tam Kwok-sun, one of the organisers.
“One or two younger team members, in their 40s, helped communicate with other parties and created graphics for promotion,” Tam said.
In a letter addressed to police, Lam and Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng, the organiser said the accountability system had already collapsed.
The letter also condemned them for actions that, “have led to the social turmoil we face today”.
“Carrie Lam put all the blame on protesters for destroying Hong Kong without reflecting what she has done in response to our demands. This is reverse causality,” said Tam, who is also a 64-year-old retired teacher.
They posted the letter on a water barricade outside the Chief Executive’s Office because no representative would receive their petition.
In Central, Kate Lam, who works in retail, and her husband brought their two-year-old daughter to the rally.
“This is one of the few safe and approved rallies left to attend after the government banned the others,” she said.
Kate Lam said the couple were worried about the tear gas and violence seen at other rallies.
“The government is using tear gas abusively and violently suppressing protesters,” she said.
Mr Yip and his two teenage daughters attended the Edinburgh Place rally holding a large banner that called for an independent commission to investigate police conduct.
“We’re here for all Hongkongers and ensure our society remains free,” he said.
Organisers did not count the number of attendees, but estimated several hundred people had shown up.