HONG KONG,   (Xinhua) -- The governing council of the University of Hong Kong decided to dismiss associate professor Benny Tai Yiu-ting, an organizer of the 2014 illegal "Occupy Central" movement, at a meeting on Tuesday.

The decision, made after a vote of 18 to two, reversed a previous report by the senate of the university to keep the position of Tai, which said his involvement in the movement, while damaging the reputation of the university and proved to be misconduct, should not be the reason for dismissal.

Police officers remove barricade during the illegal "Occupy Central" movement in Causeway Bay, in south China's Hong Kong, Dec. 15, 2014. (Xinhua)

The university will stop paying salaries and benefits to Tai, based on the latest decision.

Tai was sentenced to 16 months in prison after being convicted for offenses including incitement to committing public nuisances in April 2019. After being bailed pending an appeal, he also advocated "Hong Kong independence" and glorified violence.

Ahead of the election of the Legislative Council, Tai organized so-called "primaries" for the opposition camp, which blatantly interfered in the election and challenged the Basic Law and the national security law in Hong Kong. ■