HONG KONG - Self-made billionaire Jimmy Lai, a vocal supporter of the Occupy Central civic disobedience movement, has resigned as chairman and executive director of Next Media, public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) reported on Monday.

Founded by Lai, Next Media publishes the top-selling Apple Daily, which has supported the Occupy movement through its articles.

The news came days after Lai was arrested last Thursday from the main protest site of the Occupy movement in Hong Kong's Admiralty business district, during a police operation to clear the site following more than two months of blockade by protesters.

Lai, 66, had already resigned as Apple Daily's editor-in-chief shortly after his arrest alongside those of more than 200 other protesters. All were subsequently released by police.

Police are expected to clear the last remaining Occupy site in Causeway Bay Monday morning. Another major site in the working class district of Mong Kok where protesters camped on the streets for weeks was cleared last month.