Asia: Hong Kong's dilemma

Tung Chee-Hwa risks displeasing Beijing.

In a HARDtalk interview on 25 September, 2003, Tim Sebastian talks to Ma Lik, Secretary General, Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong.

The Government in Hong Kong has withdrawn its anti-subversion bill, two months after the biggest popular protest since the territory's handover to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

Chief executive Tung Chee-Hwa says the government will not introduce a new version of the legislation until more public consultations are held.

How damaging has the back-down been to Beijing? Ma Lik is the Secretary General of Hong Kong's biggest pro-Beijing party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong.

Why did he push for a postponement of the legislation after the protests and why does he think it will take years before the bill is re-introduced?

He talks to Tim Sebastian

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