Beijing Adviser Adds To Criticism Of Tai's Remarks

The vice-president of Beijing’s top think tank on Hong Kong, Lau Siu-kai, has condemned comments made by University of Hong Kong law professor Benny Tai, who suggested Hong Kong could consider becoming an independent state.

Tai, a leader of the 2014 Occupy movement, has already been criticised by the SAR government for his comments, made at a forum in Taiwan.

Lau said the remarks breached what he described as "the bottom line of the central government" – a reference to the issue being non-negotiable. Lau said Beijing thinks Tai is trying to advocate the end of Communist Party leadership.

He added that Tai's comments come at "a sensitive time" when Beijing is worried that independence advocates in Taiwan and Hong Kong could unite and defy mainland China.

Tai reportedly said people in Hong Kong need to think about what they want should China eventually become a democratic country. He said Chinese people, including Hongkongers, should think about whether or not they want to set up an independent country or a federal government.

On Friday, the SAR government strongly condemned the remarks, saying advocating independence for Hong Kong is not in line with the Basic Law, or One Country, Two Systems, and Hong Kong's overall and long-term interests.

Tai said he was disappointed the government put out the statement before knowing all the facts, adding that there is nothing new about what he had said.

He also questioned whether or not the government's statement was intended to pave the way for the introduction of national security laws, and to suppress the discussion and imagination of Hong Kong and the mainland's future.