"I can't think of anywhere else in the world that you can have such large number of people turning out in such a peaceful manner to ask for something which is of their own right," said Ronny Tong, a lawmaker and march organizer. Organizers said the protest drew 250,000 people -- far exceeding analysts' forecast of between 50,000 and 100,000. Police put the turnout at 63,000. Sunday's turnout could mean hopes are faltering for the government to push through a package of political changes that critics say is too conservative. The proposed changes call for doubling the size of the 800-member committee that picks Hong Kong's leader and expanding the 60-member legislature, as a step toward greater democracy. Some analysts say Beijing is stalling on democratic reforms because the Communist leadership fears that it would lose control of Hong Kong's government -- which under a democracy would care more about answering to the public. http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/12/04/hk.march.ap/index.html
