Ronny Tong Calls For Progress On Political Reform

Executive Council member and former lawmaker Ronny Tong says it's time for society to forget its divisions and work together to find a way forward on political reform.

Speaking a day after the sentencing of eight people convicted over their role in the 2014 Occupy movement, Tong said it was time to forget what he described as a "painful past".

"I think it is not very meaningful to discuss whether the sentences are harsh or whether they are light, particularly bearing in mind some of the defendants have already said they would appeal, both in relation to the conviction and in relation to the sentencing," Tong said.

"I think it's more important for us to take a breath and ask ourselves: are we ready to get over the difficulties and the division caused by Occupy Central and are we ready to embark on a new quest for political reform?"

The Occupy protests were sparked by a plan for political reform that would have seen the chief executive elected by the public, but from a shortlist selected by a committee dominated by Beijing loyalists.

The three-co-founders of the Occupy movement, Benny Tai, Chan Kin-man and Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, have all indicated they will appeal against their convictions for public nuisance-related offences. Tai and Chan will also appeal against their 16-month prison sentences.