Beijing pleased with Hong Kong’s condemnation of Benny Tai

In this 2014 file photo, Benny Tai Yiu-ting, co-founder of activist group Occupy Central With Love and Peace (OCLP), and pro-democracy activists hit drums during a rally

Mainland authorities have voiced their support for Hong Kong’s handling of Benny Tai’s controversial remarks in Taiwan.

At a seminar last week in the Taiwanese capital, Tai implied that Hong Kong – along with a number of other minority-ethnic areas of China – might one day become independent or part of a federation, should China become a democratic state.

Hong Kong and mainland officials were outraged by the comments and denounced Tai for what they described as subversion of the central government and a plot to divide China.

A spokesperson from the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council on Saturday expressed resolute support for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government’s handling of “Hong Kong independence” activities.

The spokesperson said that “we have taken note of University of Hong Kong associate professor Benny Tai Yiu Ting recently participating in a meeting of a ‘Taiwan independence’ organization in Taiwan and blatantly preaching ‘Hong Kong independence’,” and “we also noticed that the HKSAR government expressed strong condemnation over the event.”

“A handful of people in Hong Kong have colluded with outside separatist forces, blatantly preaching “Hong Kong independence,” the spokesperson continued.

“This has exposed their attempt to split our country and has severely violated the Constitution of China, the Basic Law of the HKSAR and relevant laws in Hong Kong.”

“We will not turn a deaf ear to or tolerate such kind of activities.”

In response, activist and academic Tai warned that Beijing and Hong Kong authorities were seeking to make an example of him to deter other dissenters.

Tai also said he feared new legislation currently being proposed by the HKSAR would seek to limit freedom of expression, including that protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

A demonstration led by democratic lawmakers from the Civic Party and People Power was held in Hong Kong yesterday to rally support for Tai. MDT/Xinhua