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

My guest today has been an influential voice in the public life of Hong Kong for many decades.

As a successful lawyer, a reform-minded member of the Legislative Council,

and for the last three years, a member of the Executive Council advising the chief executive of Hong Kong

Carrie Lamb. In other words, Ronnie Tong has been on quite a journey, from supporter of

democratic reform to Beijing loyalist. Now Mr. Tong finds himself defending a draconian new national security law imposed on Hong Kong by the Chinese government,

a law that imposes severe punishment on those found guilty of a raft of vaguely defined crimes,

including terrorism, subversion, collusion and secession.

Critics, both within Hong Kong and in western capitals have condemned it as a grave breach of the one country two systems principle

underpinning Hong Kong's governance for the last 23 years. So, has Beijing just suffocated the life out of Hong Kong's special status?

Well, Ronnie Tong joins me now on the line from Hong Kong.

Welcome to Hard Talk.

Hello.

Let me begin with the concept of consultation.

Are you comfortable with the fact that China has just imposed a law

on the territory of Hong Kong with no meaningful consultation with the government or people of Hong Kong?

I don't think that is quite right. I think there are two things one need to remember.

First of all, it is a law enacted by the mainland, according to their legislative law. It is not a law

enacted by the legislative council. So they would consult the way in which their law provides as to how to consult in relation to a lawmaking process.

I want to say that there was no meaningful consultation. I think quite a contrary.

A lot of people put in opinion and advice and I did so also.

And the government was consulted, the basic law committee was

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