HONG KONG - THOUSANDS of people turned out for a pro-democracy rally in Hong Kong on Sunday to demand the right to pick the city's leader and entire legislature in 2012.

More than 2,000 protesters planned to open umbrellas to form the numbers 2-0-1-2 in a Hong Kong park before they marched to government headquarters, organizers said.

The demonstration comes days before a three-month consultation period on Hong Kong's political reform ends Wednesday.

The government has issued a consultation paper containing various proposals on how and when the city's leader and legislature should be elected. However, pro-democracy lawmakers who want direct elections as soon as possible have criticised the document, saying it's confusing to the public because it lists many options.

The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 but was promised a wide degree of autonomy under a 'one country, two systems' formula. Beijing ruled out full democracy for the territory before 2008.

Hong Kong people do not have the right to pick the territory's leader, known as the chief executive. An 800-member election committee, considered partial to Beijing, makes the selection. Only half of the local legislative assembly's 60 lawmakers are directly elected. The rest are picked by special interest groups, such as business and labor unions.

Many Hong Kongers believe the city is ready for democratic reform, but Beijing loyalists - especially those in the business community - worry that political changes will create social upheaval and upset the economy. -- AP