The day after the start of a sit-in of thousands of people at the Hong Kong airport to educate foreign visitors to their claims, hundreds of families descended on Saturday, August 10, in the streets of the former colony to show their support for the pro-democracy movement.

The friendly atmosphere of this gathering contrasted with the increasingly violent clashes that marked the recent pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

On a small multicolored flyer distributed in the ranks of the families who were demonstrating, an alphabet explains the protest movement in a playful way to the children: A for "Angry", D for "demonstration" or "P" for "protest" "(dispute).

Faye Lai, a theater worker with her three-year-old stroller niece, said she hoped the rally would help younger people understand the crisis in Hong Kong.

"We need to explain to children the current situation in Hong Kong and teach them what a good society looks like," she says. "The future belongs to children, the future of Hong Kong belongs to them, we fight for the rights that children should enjoy".

"It's up to the next generation to understand the importance of a future"

Born out of the rejection of a controversial draft law by the pro-Beijing Hong Kong executive that wanted to allow extradition to China, the mobilization has since considerably broadened its demands, with China's central power in the line of fire.

This mobilization of families, which is a gathering for "the future of our children", has been authorized by the authorities, unlike several others planned by the protesters who plan to intensify their demonstrations over the weekend, including the continuation of a three-day sit-in at the international airport bringing together thousands of people.

"At this point, we have to be involved in all events, especially those that are important to future generations, not just demonstrations and marches," said Roger Cheng, a 50-year-old office worker. "Like today, it's up to the next generation to understand the importance of a future."

Seniors also staged a rally on Saturday called "silver hair" and issued petitions to Hong Kong's Police Headquarters and Chief Executive Office, Carrie Lam, to mark their support to the movement.

With AFP