She bemoans Britain’s unwillingness to risk a stand-off with Beijing: “Their first instinct is to keep their heads low; they just want things to carry on as before, would like the protests to disappear, and maintain good relations with China.”

Chan served as chief secretary to both the British colonial government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government under China’s rule, and has been a sharp critic of Beijing’s electoral reform framework.

“[Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s report] to the Chinese leadership was dishonest and misrepresented the sentiments of the Hong Kong people,” Chan writes.

In a report to Beijing, Leung claimed that the Hong Kong government’s five-month consultation process showed support for a nominating committee modelled on the 1,200-member election committee from the 2012 poll, in which he was voted into office by just 689 people. The report also said that “mainstream opinion” was against undermining the committee’s right to nominate by giving the public a say, something Chan describes as a “dishonest”.

Leung, who Chan says is “in the pockets of Beijing”, will find it increasingly difficult to govern Hong Kong as he and his team “have little credibility left” with the city’s people.

Chan argues that the best way for Beijing to secure Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability “is by allowing one person, one vote”.

“Many of these young people [protesting on the streets] only know life after Chinese rule. They are worried about many of the same things that worry young people in Britain and elsewhere. Will they find a good job? Will they ever be able to buy a home?

“Now within the territory there is a sense of them and us. Those who make money are tempted to stay quiet, to maintain their links, their status. The rest, they want what many people want across the world – a good education and an open society,” Chan concludes.