Promoting Independence Intolerable: Raymond Tam

NPC delegate Raymond Tam has weighed into the debate over controversial independence comments made last month by legal scholar and Occupy leader Benny Tai, which angered Beijing and sparked renewed debate over freedom of speech.

Tam said on Sunday that the speech may have violated the Basic Law, but did not think it would expedite Article 23 security legislation, but warned against such comments.

"Noone who promotes independence should be tolerated because that would be against the long-term and overall interest of Hong Kong and of our nation," Tam said.

In his comments last month at a forum in Taipei, Tai, an associate law professor at the University of Hong Kong, raised the possibility that Hong Kong could opt for independence should China ever become democratic.

His comment sparked criticism from both the SAR and central governments, which both condemned his remarks and accused him of advocating independence.

Others backed Tai, and police estimate that 1,200 people took part in a rally outside Legco on Saturday to support Tai.

Former Legco president Tsang Yok-sing on Sunday said it was hard to believe that Tai's comment on independence was just part of an academic discussion. He added that the organiser of the event was clearly anti-communist.

"By joining the event and making those comments, Mr Tai was not doing it in the capacity of an academic, so I believe he himself knows very well the possible consequences of his action," Tsang said.