Benny Tai A Threat To The Country, Warns Official

The State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office warned on Wednesday that Hong Kong University law professor Benny Tai is trying to unite pro-independence forces in the SAR with those in Taiwan.

The office's spokesman, Ma Xiaoguang, claimed Tai is jeopardising national sovereignty and territorial integrity. But Ma added that such attempts will fail because they're not supported by the people.

The legal scholar had already been condemned by SAR and Beijing officials after saying at a recent forum in Taiwan that Hong Kong could consider independence if China ever becomes a democracy.

Tai has repeatedly denied that he advocates independence for the city.

While critics have said his comments crossed Beijing's "red line", supporters say Tai's hypothetical suggestion for the future of the territory was perfectly acceptable and protected under Hong Kong's freedom of speech and academic freedom.