Topic
Benny Tai Yiu-ting, born in 1964, is an associate professor of law at the University of Hong Kong. He initiated the Occupy Central with Love and Peace campaign in January 2013, demanding universal suffrage by "international standards" for the 2017 Chief Executive election and 2020 Legislative Council Elections.
Mutual destruction has been cited for the unsanctioned primary election run-off last July, but did most people have that in mind when they organised and voted in it?
A two-minute clip produced by the University of Hong Kong’s Campus TV falls short of the decency and respect expected of tertiary students. But the underlying sentiments and issues may prompt more tension and conflict if they are not properly addressed.
The sacking of academic Benny Tai, one of the founders of the 2014 Occupy civil disobedience movement, has come at a time when society is already divided, with some now questioning the institution’s independence.
His teaching of civil disobedience is perfectly justified but his firing is not about academic interference, rather it’s the fact that he has been criminally convicted.
- Prosecution tells West Kowloon Court ‘unlawful means’ do not require an element of violence to put country’s safety at risk
- Judges told by defence lawyers national security law does not specify that subversion could be committed by non-violent means
Witness, who cannot be named due to gag order, denies infiltrating opposition camp to gather evidence, insists recording were for private ‘research’.
Patrick Amadon says accusations he supports ‘rioters’ in Hong Kong are correct but he would not reveal his location.
Au Nok-hin says he insisted primary candidates should not be forced to veto budgets because of risk of breaches of national security law.
Democratic Party ex-chairman Yeung Sum argues role in unauthorised assembly was ‘matter of honour and conscience’, no regret over lost Silver Bauhinia Star.
Tai, 57, had admitted the breaches in connection with ‘ThunderGo’ strategy that was aimed at maximising chances of opposition hopefuls in 2016 Legco election.
Case centres on ‘ThunderGo’ strategy aimed at maximising chances of opposition hopefuls in 2016 Legco election.
Tai and his co-defendants were granted bail on Friday, though the long-time activist will remain behind bars awaiting trial on national security law charges.
City’s anti-graft watchdog said it was acting on complaints in bringing charges against Tai, psychologist Ip Kim-ching and Sek Sau-ching.
Advocates of law argue it was badly needed to protect national sovereignty, but critics say it has been weaponised and used to silence dissent.
Of the 21 defendants challenging bail decisions, 11 are denied temporary release and the remainder rescind their applications late on. Forty-seven in total accused of plotting to paralyse the government.
Tai and his co-defendants, Chan Kin-man and Chu Yiu-ming, are appealing against their convictions on public nuisance charges the 2014 protest movement.
Benny Tai, Chan Kin-man and Chu Yiu-ming are challenging their conviction on conspiracy and incitement charges stemming from their roles in the civil disobedience movement.
On Sunday, 47 opposition figures were charged with conspiring to subvert state power over their roles in an unofficial primary ahead of the now-postponed Legislative Council elections in 2020. Prosecutors say the bid to win a majority was part of a plot to overthrow the government.
Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, tells seminar in Shenzhen that ‘patriots governing Hong Kong’ is paramount to the future of ‘one country, two systems’.
Power for Democracy committee members vote on Saturday to immediately cease all operations, day before activists charged with subversion report to police.
Benny Tai one of 52 figures who reported to police stations across the city on Wednesday. Group must report back again on April 8, but three other activists, including Joshua Wong, remain behind bars.
Authorities contend that the opposition camp’s campaigning for primary elections held last July included plans to ‘paralyse’ and ‘overthrow’ the government.
Nearly 1,000 police officers conducted raids across city, detaining 53 people accused of organising or involvement in an unofficial primary election last July.
The two men, a law scholar and a social work lecturer, are appealing convictions for their activities during the 2014 protest movement.
Former student believes Tai separated his roles of social activist and university professor very clearly, and HKU council’s decision to dismiss him raises grave concerns about its independence from government influence.
‘Everyone has a bottom line when it comes to speaking the truth.’
As noted in a prior court judgment, academic freedom rests with institutions, not individuals. Moreover, the decision to fire Tai was made after a democratic vote.
The HKU student union also urged the university council to make public the justifications for Tai’s dismissal within a week.
Occupy movement co-founder is a convicted criminal and had to go, governing council chief Arthur Li says.
