In a sense, the Dalai Lama represents a serious challenge to the ability of the government in Beijing to rule effectively, |
It's clear that the vast majority of the Tibetan population resists Chinese rule and, therefore, the Dalai Lama is the symbol of the struggle of people for independence. |
So much of the negotiations over Hong Kong has been more or less a question of Britain rolling over and accepting Chinese terms. There has to be a way in which it can be said to the Chinese 'we will resist, we have different views, we have different policies.' And to some extent, the policy towards the Dalai Lama is one of the better ways to convey that symbol. |