The People's Voice.(Interview)

Anson Chan is still remembered as one of Hong Kong's finest leaders. As chief secretary, she headed up the territory's civil service in the No. 2 post under the last British governor, Chris Patten, and then later under Tung Chee-hwa himself. Her resignation from the administration in January 2001 was widely interpreted in political circles as a vote of no confidence in Tung's leadership. On the morning after the July 9 protests, Chan spoke by phone with NEWSWEEK's Alexandra A. Seno about Hong Kong's future. Excerpts:

NEWSWEEK: What is your interpretation of the events in Hong Kong?

July 1 and yesterday mark a watershed in Hong Kong's political development. I don't think things can be the same again. People expressed their views not just about Article 23, but about a lot of things. What matters to them is their way of life. What I think people object to is the way in which the government has gone about this whole consultation exercise and the actual content of the Article 23 legislation.

A lot of the frustration seems to be directed at Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.

Yes. In a way, it's not surprising. We've had recession and deflation for quite a few years. It's too simplistic though to dismiss this current show of strength as all having to do with the economy. The economy is one bit of it, but it's also very much how Mr. Tung is perceived to be governing Hong Kong.

How do you think he is doing?

I think most people feel that he's not listening ...