In the rain .. Hong Kong continues to protest against the decline of freedoms

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Thousands of anti-government and pro-democracy protesters gathered in Hong Kong on Sunday despite heavy rains and strong winds, in the 11th week of demonstrations in the Asian financial center.

Demonstrators are calling for an end to the protests as "riots", an end to charges against detainees, an independent investigation into the events and a resumption of political reforms, as well as the resignation of Hong Kong-backed chief executive Kari Lam.

Ten weeks of protests have plunged the city, an international trade hub, into crisis, with frequent scenes of masked demonstrators clashing with riot police amid tear gas.

Sunday's demonstration was "rational and non-violent," according to the "Civil Front for Human Rights," which called for the gathering.

"We expect a large number of participants. We want to show the world that the people of Hong Kong can be completely peaceful," said MILF spokeswoman Bonnie Loing.

"If the tactic of Beijing and the Hong Kong government is to wait until our movement dies, they are wrong, we will persistently pursue."

The Civil Front for Human Rights is a peaceful protest group that was once the driving force of mass protests, which recorded record participation in June and July, when hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets.

"Hong Kong people are tired of protesting, this is really the last thing they want," said a 24-year-old student named Jonathan. "But we have to be here because we have no other choice. We must continue until the government finally shows us respect." Which we deserve. "

The protesters, who sat on football pitches in the sprawling Victoria Park in the city's busy Causeway Bay district in the rain, carried banners reading "Freedom for Hong Kong!" And "Democracy Now!".

The media used scenes of some clashes during demonstrations, publishing articles, photos and videos condemning the incident, as well as photographs of military personnel and armored personnel carriers in Shenzhen, near the Hong Kong border.

The United States has warned Beijing of the consequences of sending troops, a move many analysts say will damage China's reputation and be an economic disaster.

Anger erupted in June over a bill now pending that would have allowed the extradition of suspected criminals in Hong Kong to China, but mounting unrest is fueled by broader concerns about the erosion of freedoms guaranteed by the "one country, two systems" formula, enforced since Britain restored Hong Kong to Chinese rule in 1997.