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.

My guest today is a veteran Chinese diplomat who spent a decade representing his government in London.

For much of that period, power in Beijing has been consolidated in the

hands of President Xi Jinping, who has married a ruthless brand of authoritarianism with an increasingly

overt strain of nationalism. The prolonged political unrest in Hong Kong has come to represent the most serious challenge to the Xi presidency.

The pro-democracy protesters, in their refusal to be cowed, have exposed weakness and indecision,

both in the Hong Kong government and, by extension, in Beijing too.

The events in the territory are being watched closely

in other parts of the Chinese nation and overseas as well. So how will China respond now? Well,

Ambassador Liu Xiaoming joins me now. Welcome to Hard Talk. Thank you. Thank you for having me.

It's a pleasure to have you here. Let us start with Hong Kong. President Xi Jinping has been

in power for seven years. Would you accept that the prolonged unrest and instability in Hong Kong

is the greatest challenge he has faced in his presidency?

I think our government policy is clear.

I think 12 days ago, President made very authoritative statement when he attended the BRICS summit.

He said the top priority for Hong Kong is to end violence and restore order. And also...

But with respect, he's been saying that for many months. The violence began in early summer and the

violence continues. And not just the violence, but we also have the massive political expression

represented by the results of last

Sunday's council elections. The people of Hong Kong have squarely, and by an overwhelming

majority, expressed their grave dissatisfaction with the Hong Kong and Beijing authorities?

...