DHAKA: Hundreds of demonstrators were arrested at illegal sit-ins in Hong Kong early Wednesday, following a huge rally calling for democracy in the Chinese territory.

Large crowds had turned out for a 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 staged illegal sit-ins at two locations, in the heart of the business district and outside the office of Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. Police said 511 people were arrested at the sit-ins, for illegal assembly and obstructing police officers.

At about 3 a.m., officers began arresting demonstrators at one of the sites, telling those present to disperse or face charges. Buses were brought in to transport protesters away, and arrests continued through the night, police said.

Joshua Wong, the 17-year-old co-founder of Scholarism, one of the student groups behind the sit-ins, said the demonstrations were a success, reports CNN.

"We were able to show that peaceful, non-violent protest is possible," he told CNN. "We did not engage in any verbal or physical conflict with the police."

BDST: 1051 HRS, JUL 02, 2014