CS Denies Tai Condemnation Is Linked To Article 23

The Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung has dismissed suggestions that the government was paving the way for Article 23 anti-subversion legislation by officially condemning Occupy co-founder Benny Tai for hypothetical references he made to Hong Kong independence at a forum in Taiwan last week.

Professor Tai said people need to think about what they want, should China become a democratic country. He said Chinese people, including Hongkongers, should think about whether or not they want to set up an independent country or a federal government.

Beijing's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and the SAR government responded by accusing Professor Tai of advocating Hong Kong independence.

Cheung said the condemnation and Article 23 were two different matters and the two should not be linked. Cheung said the government will only begin such legislation when conditions are right.

Speaking separately after a TV programme, Beijing loyalist Tam Yiu-chung accused Tai of not respecting the Basic Law and the Chinese constitution. The National People’s Congress Standing Committee member said Tai had made the comment in Taiwan at an event organised by a Taiwan separatist group