You're listening to a podcast from the BBC World Service. This is Hard Talk with me, Stephen Sacker.

Thanks for downloading this edition of the program. I do hope you enjoy it.

Welcome to Hard Talk on the BBC World Service with me, Stephen Sacker. My guest today,

Anthony Chung, is a member of Hong Kong's post-1997 political establishment. After Chinese sovereignty over

the territory was restored under the one-country two systems formula, Mr. Chung filled a number of

top posts in the Hong Kong administration, culminating in a five-year stint as Secretary of Transport and Housing. Now he's a professor at the

Education University of Hong Kong, but his remains a significant voice in the politics of the

territory, particularly at this time of acute crisis. One key demand of the protesters has been met.

A widely hated extradition bill has been withdrawn,

but neither Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam nor the Beijing authorities appear to be in any mood

to bow to the protesters' wider demands. So what now? How bleak are the prospects for Hong Kong? Well, Anthony Chung joins me now on the line

from Hong Kong. Welcome to Hard Talk. You're welcome. From the outside, it looks as though

Hong Kong is sliding ever deeper into chaos. Is that the way it feels to you inside Hong Kong?

Well, it's really distressing to see what's happening.

Protests and violence seem to be continuing.

And the whole community is getting very anxious.

Some young people feel that they don't see a breakthrough.

They don't see light at the end of a tunnel.

And indeed, for the whole city, we have yet to find a political solution to the crisis.

And we can see that the central government is Beijing is also getting very anxious

and is varying that Hong Kong might get out of control.

And therefore, it has been emphasizing the need for national security, for stability.

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