HONG KONG: Tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong (HK) marched in protest against Occupy Central with Love and Peace, which is planning mass sit-ins to paralyze the financial district amid a debate over democracy in the territory.

The protest underlines the deep division in Hong Kong over how to pick its new leader in 2017, with the political unrest threatening to erode its status as a global financial center. The Chinese government has insisted on having candidates vetted by a nominating committee, which has met with opposition from lawmakers, students and activists.

Demonstrators filled several soccer fields in the city’s east before starting to walk toward Central Sunday. The University of Hong Kong’s Public Opinion Program estimated the turnout was as much as 88,000, while police said 110,600 people took part in the rally at its peak..

Occupy Central has threatened to organize a 10,000 strong sit-in at the financial district if the reforms fail to meet what it terms as “international standards.”