"What is best about Hong Kong is the fact that we are a pluralistic society, we are open, we are tolerant," Chan said. "But above all, we have proper regard for human dignity, for rights and freedoms and above all for the rule of law. These are Hong Kong's strengths and these strengths are what set Hong Kong apart from mainland China."

Those people - whom she did not identify - who simply did what Beijing or the central government's liaison office wanted needed to reflect, she said.

"They don't stop to think what is it that makes Hong Kong tick … We have neither the land nor the human resources, so where do we compete if not relying on our strengths?," Chan asked. "Why do businesses come here? Why are we the pre-eminent financial centre for China and not Shanghai and not Beijing?"

Chan said people who had benefitted from living and working in Hong Kong "owe a duty and a commitment to the general public" to protect its core values, because "for some of the richer people, they always have a choice, if things go wrong here, they can up and go".

"Hong Kong is our home, but it's our home for very specific reasons, we don't want to turn into another Chinese city," she said in a video profile that also looks back on her life and career in Hong Kong.

A "one country, two systems" framework was drawn up by Deng Xiaoping as part of Beijing's promise in the 1980s that Hong Kong's economic system and civil liberties would remain unchanged. But it has been much debated in recent years amid increasing tension between Hong Kong and the mainland.

Chan, who was chief secretary between 1993 and 2001, said it was time to rethink the city's role as part of the nation.

"I'm not anti-China. I fully respect 'one country, two systems', but I place equal emphasis on both one country and two systems," Chan stressed. "If you see things happening that are chipping away at 'one country, two systems' and eroding our rights and freedoms, then you have a duty to stand up and have the courage of your convictions, that's all I am doing."

People "who have the ear of Beijing should impress upon" them that the SAR's current constitutional framework needs reform such as genuine steps towards universal suffrage and the development of political parties to "make Hong Kong more stable", Chan said, adding that if this is not done, "Hong Kong will become increasingly ungovernable".

She said that instead of criticising the pro-democracy Occupy Central movement, the government should try to forge consensus and make sure its electoral package was acceptable to all.

Chan also suggested that Leung should "appreciate the importance" of establishing his credibility and integrity in the wake of a number of scandals that have affected him since he took office in July last year.

Occupy Central is led by associate law professor Benny Tai Yiu-ting as a last push for democracy, but Leung has warned against civil disobedience. In August, former radio host Robert Chow Yung formed a campaign group opposed to Occupy Central, while all 18 district councils, dominated by Beijing-loyalists, passed motions condemning Tai's plan.

Chan questioned whether those against the civil disobedience movement had been created by "behind-the-scenes manoeuvring".

The Post's exclusive profile -- Anson Chan: In her own words