Beijing Aide Repeats Warning On Independence Calls

A former top Beijing official has again emphasised that calls for independence are not a matter of freedom of speech and reiterated that Hong Kong people have the duty to safeguard the country's sovereignty.

In a speech that lasted over an hour, the former chairman of the NPC's Law Committee, Qiao Xiaoyang, told a meeting attended by top ministers and senior civil servants that he felt "very hurtful" about the rise of pro-independence sentiments in the SAR.

But Qiao did not refer to any particular event or mention any names.

Occupy leader Benny Tai was condemned by Beijing and the Carrie Lam administration after making the hypothetical suggestion at a forum in Taiwan that Hong Kong could consider independence if China ever becomes a democracy. Critics say that attacks on Tai are against Hong Kong's tradition of free speech.

But Executive Councillor Ronny Tong, who attended the talk, said the Beijing official didn't give any specific instructions or put pressure on top SAR officials. He didn't bring up Article 23 either, Tong said.

But Qiao did mention that he wishes that Hong Kong people will have a better understanding of the national constitution, he said.

Tong said the Beijing official's talk was purely academic and just covered basic knowledge about the Chinese constitution.

Qiao also had lunch with Chief Executive Carrie Lam at Government House before meeting Legco President, Andrew Leung.

Leung said he did not discuss anything controversial with the former NPC Law Committee chief, saying he simply briefed him on Legco's work and showed him around the complex.

Qiao will attend a forum organised by the Joint Committee for the Promotion of the Basic Law of Hong Kong on Saturday.