Benny Tai Says He Fears For His Personal Safety

Embattled legal scholar Benny Tai said on Tuesday that he now fears for his personal safety after being condemned by the Hong Kong and central governments over his hypothetical comments about possible Hong Kong independence.

The University of Hong Kong law professor said he suspects he was being followed by officers from "powerful" mainland agencies who may be posing as journalists, and that the police were unable to help him.

Professor Tai said if he ends up in Macau or on the mainland, he would have been taken there against his will -- apparently referring to fears that he might be forcibly taken across the border.

The Occupy Movement founder spoke at a forum in Taipei last month about the hypothetical possibility of Hong Kong becoming independent one day.

He said the idea of independence or a federal government system could be something the Chinese people would want to consider should China eventually become a democratic country.

The Hong Kong government later condemned the remarks. Pro-Beijing groups also expressed outrage over Tai's comments.