Hundreds of demonstrators, including prominent lawmakers, were arrested at a peaceful sit-in in Hong Kong early Wednesday, following a huge rally calling for democracy in the Chinese territory. Large crowds had turned out for a 5 km march through the city's central business district Tuesday, in a massive show of defiance against Beijing's vision for the city's political future. Police said 98,600 people took part in the march, while organizers said 510,000 participated. Statisticians from the University of Hong Kong estimated the turnout as between 154,000 and 172,000. At the end of the rally, student activist groups held illegal sit-ins at two locations, at Chater Road in the heart of the business district, and outside the office of Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.
@highlight
Huge crowds march in Hong Kong calling for democracy on the anniversary of handover
@highlight
511 protesters arrested at illegal sit-in following the march, say police
@highlight
An annual event, the march is especially charged this year amid a heated political climate
@highlight
Pro-democracy activists are threatening to "occupy" downtown if calls are not heard
But public anger over a recently published Chinese "white paper" declaring @placeholder's "comprehensive jurisdiction" over the territory, released amid a campaign by pro-democracy activists for universal suffrage, drew a larger than usual turnout.