Occupy Protests Achieved More Than Expected: Tai

One of the founders of the Occupy Central movement, Benny Tai, said on Thursday that the 2014 civil disobedience protests achieved "much more than we expected", even as he acknowledged that the objective of securing a more democratic system in Hong Kong had failed.

The Hong Kong University law professor said the protests, which started in September 2014 and lasted 79 days, had awakened Hong Kong people to the significance of democracy, and the value of civil disobedience.

"I think we have achieved our goals, and even, you may say, we have achieved much more than we expected," he said.

Tai and eight other pro-democracy leaders were recently put on trial accused of conspiracy to cause public nuisance; inciting others to cause public nuisance; and inciting people to incite others to cause public nuisance.

The District Court is due to deliver its verdict on Tuesday.

Tai told RTHK's Janice Wong that he is mentally and physically prepared for any outcome in the court case, adding that he and the other Occupy Central founders, Chan Kin-man and Revered Chu Yiu-ming, will appeal if they are found guilty.

The other defendants in the case are lawmakers Tanya Chan and Shiu Ka-chun, former lawmaker Lee Wing-tat and democracy activists Eason Chung, Raphael Wong and Tommy Cheung.