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.
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Huge crowds march in Hong Kong calling for democracy on the anniversary of handover
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511 protesters arrested at illegal sit-in following the march, say police
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An annual event, the march is especially charged this year amid a heated political climate
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Pro-democracy activists are threatening to "occupy" downtown if calls are not heard
Beijing
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.
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"We can show the world and show the central government that @placeholder people want democracy so badly and we will fight for it at all costs."
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"We must pressure the central government, and tell them not to ignore the will of the @placeholder people."
Beijing
While the Hong Kong government has promised residents they will be able to vote for their next chief executive in 2017 elections, @placeholder says it will only allow candidates who "love China."