Unlike the previous two years when Bishop Joseph Zen added his moral voice to mobilize protesters, this year he is not doing so.

''Hong Kong people are tired,'' he told the Associated Press.

Zen added that he had urged people to join previous protests because ''there were urgent targets to be achieved.''

In 2003, half a million people took to the streets to protest against the proposed Article 23 anti-subversion bill that was later shelved.

Last year, a similar number marched calling for full democracy, including direct elections for the chief executive in 2007 and Legislative Council in 2008, both of which have been vetoed by the central government.

Zen insisted his change of stance has nothing to do with improving relations between China and Vatican, adding that he still finds his ``responsibility towards Hong Kong'' an important task and that he continues to support full democracy.

Zen said he hopes this year's protest will ``awaken public conscience'' against Beijing's grip on political reforms and protect the integrity of ``one country, two systems.''

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Dick Lee said Wednesday that all requirements imposed on tomorrow's protest are aimed at assuring public order and safety.

He was responding to complaints by protest organizers that police have added 18 new conditions in the approval notice required for the rally to proceed.

Lee said the current arrangements were based on experience from earlier protests and were based on the Public Order Ordinance.

March organizers labeled some conditions, such as forbidding intimidating slogans, as an attempt to muzzle freedom of expression.

Hong Kong Island senior superintendent Lau Yip-shing denied the new conditions were politically-motivated, and said that protesters share responsibility for ensuring smooth conduct.

Organizers expected a turnout of about 50,000 but critics say it will be lower.

He stressed that only messages that provoke criminal offences are considered a violation.

Chong Yiu-kwong, spokesperson for the Civil Human Rights Front, the key organizer of the protest, said the condition means little because it will be difficult to enforce. ``If they [protesters] want to say `down with some officials,' how can we stop them?'' he asked.

dennis.chong@singtaonewscorp.com