Pro-Beijing Group Demands Longer Occupy Jail Terms

A pro-Beijing group has branded the punishments handed down to eight Occupy protest leaders "manifestly inadequate", vowing to press the authorities to increase the sentences meted out.

The Silent Majority for Hong Kong had been a vocal critic of the 2014 pro-democracy Umbrella Movement, helping to organise a signature campaign opposing the street protests, which at that point were still in the planning stage.

The convenor of the group, Robert Chow, said that the sentences handed down by the District Court on Wednesday were far from sufficient and they will be urging the government to launch an appeal.

"I think the sentences were a disappointment. I think they were manifestly inadequate. Of the eight people who were sentenced, four were basically let go, they don't have to go to prison, and the highest was only 16 months," Chow said.

"We are starting a signature campaign to ask the Secretary for Justice to appeal these sentences and ask for a review. I think this is the least she can do."

Chow said the public will not be impressed with the 16-month prison terms handed down to HKU law professor Benny Tai and sociology professor Chan Kin-man in view of the "trouble" they had brought to Hong Kong.