No future for HK in 'violence, deception'

China Daily: When you see those violent clashes, what are you thinking?

I am enormously sad because I know that this will lead nowhere. And I realize that the people who are behind it are trying to disrupt our way of life, to undermine our legal system, and to bring ''one country, two systems'' to an end.

China Daily: What steps do you think the government needs to take to restore peace and order?

Obviously authority figures, whether they are parents, teachers, or employers, must make it clear that hatred and violence have no role to play in our society. The community as a whole must indicate that violence has nothing to offer Hong Kong. And the government itself must carry on indicating, not only the benefits of the Basic Law, but of the proposals it has for the future.

China Daily: How do you evaluate Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's performance?

Well, she's had obviously a very difficult situation to handle. She nonetheless realized that it's absolutely vital for Hong Kong to have an extradition law, which enables fugitive offenders, not only from the mainland, but from around the world, to be sent back to face justice.

She has made her position clear that violence will not be tolerated in Hong Kong, that the rule of law must be respected and that the police must be supported. If Hong Kong is going to have a future, it has to be an integral part of China, pulling its weight in the nation's affairs.

So she must remain resolute. She must continue to give the police the full backing. She must continue to pursue her economic plans. She must try to ensure that people understand that violence has no future in Hong Kong, and that if the people of Hong Kong take advantage of the situation and the liberties which they now enjoy, then they can still have a great future.

China Daily: Do you have any words of advice that you would like to share with the city's young people?

What I would say is not only to young people, but also to everyone really: Hong Kong is a marvelous place to live in. It has been developed successfully over many years. It's been given huge advantages under the Basic Law.

If Hong Kong shows itself to be a responsible part of the nation and takes full advantage of the economic opportunities, for example, in the (Guangdong- Hong Kong-Macao) Greater Bay Area, the city has a great future. There is no future in violence and bloodshed and deception.