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World Headlines; Developing Story; Hong Kong's Last Governor Speaks to CNN. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired September 25, 2017 - 08:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:00:00] KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and well come to News Stream.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: A new political landscape in Germany, Angela Merkel secures a fourth term is transferred but an anti-immigrant party also make

significant games.

A feud with U.S. football players, President Trump slams some in the country's top sports stars for protesting during the National Anthem and we

are alive in Erbil as Iraqi Kurds cast their votes in a historic but controversial referendum.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: It is an election that is set for the history books. For the first time in more than 50 years, a right-wing nationalist party is to hold

seats in Germany's parliament. Angela Merkel still wins a fourth term chance but her party has a much reduced showing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: A result show the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany Party came in third place on the east vote. All the main traditional parties

took a hit and it looks like the chancellor will have a hard time forming a coalition. Now she spoke just a short time ago in Berlin. Take a listen.

ANGELA MERKEL, CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY (through a translator): Of all we had hoped for a better result. What we can say today about movement of voters,

we had 1.3 million off voters. We lost to FDP and then also to AfD. We want to have a good policy, want to solve problems and hope we can win them

back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: That was just one quote from a wide-ranging press conference from the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel about her election victory.

She also addresses her concerns ranging from the rise of the far right populist AfD in her country to the impact that Brexit will have on European

Union.

Let's get some analysis now straight to Berlin. Atika Shubert is there and she joins us now, and Atika, walk us through this challenges that Ms.

Merkel Addressed and how she plans to counter them.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, those challenges, she is still addressing right now in a press conference going on behind me but as she

said just a few moments ago, she has -- her party has a clear mandate to govern.

The big question now is what kind of coalition can they pull together and she said, you know, they're looking all the options. What is the so-called

Jamaica option because that would be the colors of the Jamaican tribe which is the -- a liberal Democrats.

FDP is the green and the Christian Democrats is one possibility, however, she's not ruling out a coalition with the social Democrats either even

though their particular that Martin Schulz said that they won't enter until coalitions.

So were very much in this very fluid mix of coalition talk basically. But she seems very relaxed, very confident and in control, and that maybe the

most important part about this while we see a lot of movement and other parties even within the own embassy and the AfD.

We had this disarray in bus stop this morning. She seems to be relaxed and saying listen, we're going to get a government together. It's just a

matter of going through the talks and finding a way through this.

LU STOUT: So Angela Merkel appears calm, in control, she's going to have to summon all of her political savvy to make this coalition building

process work. You mentioned the AfD, the anti-immigrant party that has to the four, it's already in disarray. What happened?

SHUBERT: Yes, we had quite a dramatic moment at a press conference earlier today with the AfD. It should have been their big moments where they

announced themselves as a new far right political presence.

But instead, co-chair Frauke Petry basically got up and announced that there had been, in her words, anarchic defend within the party and that she

was splitting off, and she simply have walked out of the press conference.

And she will now have an independent seat in parliament. It is unclear what that means for party, if there will be other MPs that follow her, if

that splits the party, we don't know but it certainly doesn't look for the AfD.

LU STOUT: Atika Shubert reporting live from Berlin. Thank you, Atika. Now meanwhile, voters in Japan are getting ready for a snap election.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced that he will dissolved the lower house of parliament on Thursday and seek a third term. In a national

address, Mr. Abe called in the country not to give into the surf from North Korea's. His popularity has seen a recent uptick bolstered by his image as

a strong leader during the standoff.

[08:05:00] Previously his ratings had been on the decline. The election will likely be held next month. The Trump administration has revised

restrictions on travel to the United States replacing the temporary travel ban that expired on Sunday.

Travel from Sudan is no longer restricted but the list of banned country still includes Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. Three other

countries have been added to the list Chad, North Korea and Venezuela.

These specific restrictions will vary from country to country and will be phased in over time. Now shortly after the list was issued, President

Donald Trump tweeted this quote, making America safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country. We cannot safely vet.

Now the addition of North Korea comes amid escalating rhetoric between President Trump and Kim Jong-un, our Senior International Correspondent Ben

Wedeman joins us live from Japan. And Ben, you've reported on the Trump travel ban extensively from Iraq and elsewhere, how does the latest

expanded version stand out to you?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well this one isn't strictly a ban on people from predominantly Muslim countries because it now

includes Venezuela and North Korea. Venezuela being predominantly Catholic, North Korea been officially atheist.

So that is different but the fact of the matter is that, you know, Donald Trump spoke a lot during the campaign about extreme vetting but any -- you

speak to anybody from the Middle East for instance who is applied for a visa as a student, as a tourist, as a businessman, whatever to the United

States, what you've had is a system of extreme vetting in place.

It's very difficult to get it. So people I've been in contact with in the Middle East are saying essentially that this is just new lipstick on an old

pig that this ban continues to be something that's offensive to these people and the fact of the matter is it's not easy to travel to the United

States.

A, because of visa process but B, it's an expensive thing to do. So it's not as if that many people are traveling to the United States in the first

place. So it remains a sticking point when it comes to the feelings of people in the Middle East towards United States.

LU STOUT: Absolutely and Ben, the inclusion of North Korea onto the list, I mean hardly any civilians non-diplomatic North Koreans travel into the

U.S., so why was North Korea mentioned and added into it?

WEDEMAN: And in fact -- you know, I was trying to find out from the State Department from other sources, how many North Korean tourists have traveled

to the United States. For instance in 2016, it's not clear I think you might be able to count them on one hand optimistically.

The only people who can travel from North Korea to the United States are diplomats to the United Nations. Why were they included perhaps as a

political message?

We know that the many specialists in North Korea have long advised that that was a step that should be taken merely as a symbolic gesture sanction

against North Korea. But in practical terms, doesn't mean much. Kristie.

LU STOUT: Ben Wedeman, in Tokyo for us, thank you so much and take care. Donald Trump is engaged in a very public battle against the U.S. National

Football League.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Dozens of NFL players made an unprecedented show of defiance against the president on Sunday by kneeling during the National Anthem.

Others linked arms in solidarity with their teammates.

And the U.S. president anger both NFL players and team owners on Friday when he said that athletes should be fired for disrespecting the flag to

protests.

Mr. Trump was referring to protest that began back in August of 2016, the San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick refuse to stand during the

National Anthem in protest over the shooting of unarmed black men by police.

Some other players, he also joined in that protest and the action triggered a nationwide debate. Last year, President Barack Obama said Kaepernick was

exercising his constitutional right to free speech.

But some argue that he was disrespecting the flag and the military by not standing up. However, some veterans stood up for the athlete saying think

that they fought for his freedom to protest.

And now it seems that Mr. Trump has reignited the controversy with his remarks at a campaign rally. Joe Johns is now at the White House. He

joins us now live and Joe, why is this happening? Why is president going to war on American athletes?

JOE JOHNS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It's really doubling down on rhetoric that he's been putting out there for a long time, criticizing

professional athletes for taking a knee during, (Inaudible), the National Anthem.

[08:10:00] And his critics here in the United States are questioning why this president had harsher words for professional athletes engaged in the

act of freedom of expression which is peaceful when he didn't have as much to say about people engaged in violent protests recently in

Charlottesville, Virginia. The president has said this has nothing to do with race.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think it's very disrespectful to our country but I certainly think the owners should do

something about it.

JOHNS: President Trump exacerbating a culture war with his unexpected rant Friday night.

TRUMP: When you love to see one of these NFL owners when somebody disrespects our flag to say get that son of a bitch of the field right now.

Out he's fired.

JOHNS: Despite that they have widespread backlash, the president calling again for an NFL boycott and for players who kneel during the National

Anthem to be fired or suspended.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are leader of the free world and let's assume this is what you're talking about.

LESEAN MCCOY, AMERICAN FOOTBALL RUNNING BACK: Out leader of this country is acting like a jerk.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's very unbecoming of the office of the president of the United States could talk like that to the great people like that.

JOHNS: Dozens of NFL players taking a knee or sitting during the National Anthem, Sunday, other teammates and coaches standing shoulder to shoulder

on the sideline interlocking arms.

DREW BREES, AMERICAN FOOTBALL QUARTERBACK: There's no disrespect in the Anthem. We just locked arms in unity.

JOHNS: The majority of Steelers players choosing to stay in the locker room until after the Anthem was over, some singers even showing their

solidarity taking a knee along with players.

The president responding saying standing with locked arms is good, kneeling, not acceptable. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sounding off in

the statement saying, divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the league and the employers, even

prominent Trump backers finding it hard to defend the president.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll be honest with you know because I supported Donald Trump. I'm reading these comments and it's -- it's appalling to me.

JOHNS: New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Mr. Trump's friend who gave $1 million to the president's inaugural fund says he's deeply

disappointed by the tone of Mr. Trump's comments.

TRUMP: I like Bob very much. He has to take his ideas and go with what he wants.

JOHNS: President Trump adding fuel to the fire by publicly rescinding the White House invitation to the NBA champion Golden State Warriors Stephen

Curry after he said he wouldn't go.

STEPHEN CURRY, AMERICAN BASKETBALL PLAYER: No. You know why, I feel like a target certain individual, it's not what leaders do.

JOHNS: Curry's longtime rival, LeBron James criticizing the president's response.

LEBRON JAMES, AMERICAN BASKETBALL PLAYER: For him to try to use his platform and divide us even more is not something I can stand for.

JOHNS: The president's attacks on players hitting fans against each other on Sunday's games.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS: And several tweets from the president on this issue just this morning here in Washington, many people who booed the players who kneeled

yesterday with a small percentage of total, these are fans who demand respect for our flag.

And he also reiterated something, he said yesterday, this tweet -- the issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race. It's about respect for our

country, flag and National Anthem, NFL must respect this. Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, he's not giving up the issue yet. He's tweeting about it again this morning and tell me about this, Joe, I mean is this part of a

greater trends for the president this is the president that puts his own personal views of American institutions whether suppressed or the NFL of

national unity is a clear habit pattern and something the U.S. president?

This is a president that puts his own personal views of American institutions whether it's the press or the NFL ahead of national unity?

JOHNS: I think it's more than the trend. It's a clear habit, it's a pattern and it's something that the president has done since he got in the

race just -- you know at the very beginning of it all.

The president at that time talked about building a wall between the United States and Mexico which is to this day, a big -- if you will divider in

this country between people who believe in it and between people who see it as a dog whistle on issues of race and ethnicity.

LU STOUT: Joe Johns reporting live from Washington. We thank you for your reporting. As, Joe, just mention to feel some part of musicians are also

showing solidarity.

The Singer, Pharrell Williams got down on both knees during the concert for Charlottesville and he made it clear exactly why he was doing it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHARRELL WILLIAMS,AMERICAN RAPPER: I'm going to continue right now. I'm home. Nobody tells me what to do. And I'm going to get on my knees right

now.

[08:15:00] I'm going to get on my knees right now for the people in my city, for the people in my state, it's what that flag is for!

LU STOUT: Pharrell Williams in Charlottesville there and the legendary musician Stevie Wonder also dropped to his knees at a New York music

festival saying that he was doing it for America.

And program from Eddie Vedder, he got on his knee during a concert in Nashville. He also told Mr. Trump to just stop on the North Korean

tensions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream and still to come, it is a referendum that some state were centuries in the making. Millions of Iraqi

Kurds are deciding whether or not to seek independence.

The risks Turkey, the U.S. others say this will propose for the region ahead. And things could get even worse in Puerto Rico. We'll have an

update on an endangered dam.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, welcome back. You're watching News Stream. Now, a new chapter in Iraq's most history is

unfolding. Right now, millions of Kurds in Iraq are lining up at polling stations in part of a region already called a Kurdistan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now they are voting on whether to seek independence. The U.S., Turkey, Iraq and others are against the vote, saying it could detract from

the campaign against ISIS.

The Kurds have been one of America's key allies in that fight but there are other reasons the vote is being condemned by Iraq and its neighbors.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Senior International Correspondent, Nima Elbagir in Erbil Iraq, she joins us now live. And Nima, what is the mood today there in Erbil,

and is the international tension having any impact on the mood and the push for independence?

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, despite of increasingly escalating rhetoric, the latest we heard was from the central

government of Baghdad calling for a boycott as Kurdish oil products and Iran saying that it wouldn't respect the territorial integrity of alleged

Kurdistan and Kurdistan aspirations to state it there.

It would be going into the Kurdish region it needed to protect its security. The mood here was extraordinarily jubilant. We really got a

sense of history in the making. And all those we spoke who said that they believe that if not now than when, Kristie. Take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELBAGIR: Kurdish forces keeping watch. A bulwark against the remaining pockets of ISIS resistance, just a little way down the road, a busy times

post has sprung up once of booby traps. Less than a year ago, this was all ISIS territory.

[08:20:00] Now you can see it's a key artery following people and Kurds between federal Iraq and the Kurdistan region. This is also potentially

the location Iraq could be the world's newest border.

At six this evening, the post commander, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Yousuf has received instructions to shut it down to the feasible future.

LT. COL. MOHAMMED YOUSUF, PESHMERGA FORCES (through a translator): The Peshmerga sacrificed a lot. We have been locked of thirty men desperate

for water. That's how we've done for freedom, we've doe for out own sate, for our own country.

ELBAGIR: All around the Kurdish regional capital post these campaign slogans. This is a referendum centuries in the making. All with Kirkuk is

a part of Iraq's oil industry and it lies at the heart of the tussle over territory.

Kirkuk governor has stated a nightly curfew. This city still bears the sight of ISIS and its people are now bracing themselves once more. Tribal

Leader Burhan Mezher is showing me the territory in Kirkuk Province still under ISIS control, more than half.

SHEIKH BURHAN MEZHER, TRIBAL LEADER (through a translator): to be honest in Kirkuk, it's not the Kurdish authorities or the officials we're

concerned but there are lots of out-of-control elements.

ELBAGIR: Have you personally been threatened?

MEZHER (through a translator): The threats are ongoing. We are constantly under threat and at risk of targeting. I can only pray that this will end

and go to bring peace and stability to the whole of Iraq.

ELBAGIR: Along the road to Mosul, if the Kurds have their way, it will run power to an international border, complicating the fight against ISIS. The

worry, that ISIS could exploit the instability, the lieutenant colonel ratchet those concerns aside.

YOUSUF (through a translator): Repeat for this in blood and we are prepared to sacrifice even more.

ELBAGIR: The Kurds it seems are tired of being told to wait. If not now, they say, then when?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ELBAGIR: The expectation is that as early as this evening, Kristie, we could be seeing some of those first results and within 72 hours, we'll know

whether or not the President Barzani has been given a mandate to go forward with the Kurdish aspirations that they heard. Kristie.

LU STOUT: And your report you say, they are tired of waiting. The Iraqi Kurds are going out today to vote for independence in this referendum, the

result to be announced in just the next day or two ahead.

Among those who are participating in the vote today, is there just a little bit of fear that they are risking isolation for their independence?

ELBAGIR: Its astonishing way, really all that we got was just this extraordinary sense of jubilation. People were wearing national dress.

What he thought like they were coming out to a huge nationwide celebration.

They were bringing out their children. You've saw it kind of across the generations from old to young. Everybody wants it to be able to say that

they had been here for this.

This doesn't necessarily translate immediately into independence but it definitely is a huge statement and that what is so scary to these regions

to both Iran and to Turkey that is potentially could empower their Kurdish minorities.

The reality that Kurdistan and the Peshmerga have been such a potent allies, such a potent force in the fight against ISIS as both good and bad

here, Kristie, because it is what is striking they had without the Peshmerga, without the U.S. backed-Kurdish forces.

None of this would have been possibly attempt to pushing back ISIS fighters but at the same time, it also showed how much really is at stake here and

everybody we've been speaking to security wise have said that is the worry.

That any instability between these various regional access, whether it is Erbil and Baghdad or Erbil and Istanbul, or Erbil and Tehran that these

could present opportunities for the terror group to exploit. Kristie.

LU STOUT: That of course a definite firm concerned there but you know, the scenes and you put it had a moment in history, have you met members of the

Kurdish (Inaudible) who have returned to Northern Iraq from abroad to be active participants in this incredible moment?

ELBAGIR: There are those who did fly in, Kristie, that you are able to vote abroad as well but there are those who really just wanted to be here

for this moment, and you saw it. People brought back, there are these old women and men were led in by their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

It is just an extraordinarily emotional moment and when we speak to people here, that is really what they want to communicate that in all of this

geopolitics.

[08:25:00] In all of this politicking -- yes we are politic that people are talking about in these big words. What is being lost is the aspirations of

the people who have felt a press into Second World War who were persecuted by Saddam Hussein who were told that now is not the opportune moment, now

is not the time and everybody we have spoken to has said, no.

Now is the time. Now is the time. We waited generations for this, and that is the emotion that I hope is coming across to you. Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, absolutely. Reporting your live analysis as well, Nima Elbagir reporting for us live from Erbil, thank you so much and take care.

Now there is new fear today. A hurricane devastated Puerto Rico. The governor tells CNN that an endangered dam has started to leak and he fears

that it may collapse altogether.

An engineer is on the site doing assessments, about 70,000 people who live near the dam were told to evacuate on Friday. Five days after hurricane

Maria slammed into Puerto Rico, the power is still out, the telephone service is unreliable.

Leyla Santiago is live for us in San Juan. She joins us now. And Leyla, now we have two immediate threats to the people of Puerto Rico, how real is

the threat posed by the dam, how significant is the flooding morning after more rain there.

LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And Kristie, we actually flew over that dam just in the last 24 hours ago. We go ahead and tell to an aerial video

of this and I manage to land, the pilot managed to land right next to it in a small community there to talk to the people.

And one woman actually said to me, if this dam breaks, this could be worst that the hurricane. I just spoke to the governor within the last half

hour.

And his office tells me that there's a crack in the dam and they are monitoring it very closely because there are play that the erosion could

take its toll and the flooding could be a major issue.

Now as I talking to the people in that very area, the area that by way has been evacuated of the governor has asked to be evacuated, they are still

there. They don't have communication. They don't have power.

So it's a very tough situation. It's hard to say what's going to be worst here for the people of Puerto Rico. We went yesterday in some pretty

remote areas of the island.

The governor saying that they have now (Inaudible) fatalities but they have only reached the government officials. The aid is not getting to everyone.

All the people of three towns -- remote towns found that have actually climbed to get to all the people that we have not seen around here.

They have not received the aid that is coming in and so I asked the governor about that and he said you know, as well as I do, I found it hard

to get into those areas that have major issue s right now.

The may have the relief here, the supplies, the generators, the water, the food, we're having a really hard time getting it to the people because so

many of the roads are blocked. They can't get because of flooding or debris, or a number of issues for this transportation. Kristie.

LU STOUT: Absolutely, aid has not been able to reach remote areas. Major infrastructure has been compromised, no power, no communications, a very

dire situation for the people of Puerto Rico. Leyla, we thank you for your reporting and to you and the crew, please take care.

Now scientists are warning a volcano in Bali, Indonesia could erupt soon, and coming up right here on News Stream, the impact that warn to the people

who live there and the impact on tourism as well.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN NEWS STREAM SHOW HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching "News Stream" and these are your world headlines.

Angela Merkel is back as German chancellor for a fourth term, but her party has a much reduced showing and a right-wing nationalist party will take

seats in parliament for the first time in more than 50 years. A short time ago, the chancellor said her party is determined to win back voters.

Right now, Iraqi Kurds are voting on a referendum for independence. The Iraqi government along with neighboring Iran and Turkey called the vote

illegitimate. They were concerned it could spark fresh violence in the region.

The U.S. National Football League is striking back at President Donald Trump for saying NFL players should be fired for refusing to stand during

the national anthem. At simple games on Sunday, many players knelt during the anthem in protest while others locked arms in a show of solidarity.

Another arrest in connection with this month's London terror attack. A 20- year-old man was taken into custody. So far, seven people have been detained but only one has been charged. The explosion at the Parsons Green

underground station injured 30 people.

In Bali, Indonesia, there ere fears that Mount Agung volcano is about to erupt and if it does, it will be the first time in more than 50 years.

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency says 40,000 people have been evacuated from the area. The National Volcanology Center has been

looking at seismic activity and raised the volcano's status to its highest level of danger on Friday.

CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar is keeping an eye on all this development. She joins us now live from our World Weather Center. Allison,

Bali is on alert. What is the latest seismic reading and forecast of the area?

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right. So, we take a look because there's a lot of volcanoes in this region. So, to kind of give you

reference to where we talk about, this is Indonesia on this map. This is Jakarta. So, when we zoom in close, we are talking a little bit east of

Jakarta.

Now, in this particular region, there are three separate volcanoes. It's the one farthest to the east that has folks just a little bit concerned.

It's very high in elevation, but we've already started to see some of the signs of a potential volcanic eruption.

Now, when we talk about the different levels that they have here to alert folks, there are four levels. One, two, three, and four. We are currently

sitting at the highest, level four, that's a caution because of the potential with this volcano.

So, here is what they looked at, OK. When we talk about all the different seismic activity, particularly the deep volcanic activity, has really

started to increase in the last couple of days and weeks.

There are three different signs that they look at predicting volcanic eruptions. The volcanic increase, when we talk about the increase of

earthquakes in the general vicinity. There is also swelling or ground deformations often called lava domes.

And then the third one, gases are heat, they can start to be released. You may start to look at things like steams starting to be released from some

of those eruptions. And, again, Kristie, those are some of the things we have been looking at with this particular volcano.

LU STOUT: Allison, we know that over 40,000 people have been evacuated from the area because of the threat it poses, but what's your advice for

travelers who were planning a trip to Bali this week? Should they go or should they avoid the island?

CHINCHAR: Right. So, this area lies in what we call the ring of fire, OK. This whole red highlighted area right here. This ring of fire region is

known for its volcanoes and its earthquakes. So, again, for travelers that would go there, you always stand a chance of any type of eruption or an

earthquake at any given point when you would go there.

I don't necessarily know. I would say cancel any type of trip to Indonesia for this, especially when you think about the money that people put out for

this. However, I would have a backup plan. If you are going

[08:35:00] close to that region, nowhere you can get safe, nowhere to contact, especially if you don't speak the language. Have a backup plan in

place and know what you should do if something occurs in that area.

LU STOUT: Absolutely. Very good advice there. Finally, you have that map that will bring a fire behind you. And, you know, we've been wondering.

There has been a lot of seismic activity in recent weeks, you know, two earthquakes in Mexico.

There was even that -- it was just a 3.5 magnitude tremor, but it did take a lot of nerves. The earthquake in North Korea over the weekend. And now

this volcanic threat in Bali. Is all this related to that, the ring of fire, and is it acting up?

CHINCHAR: Yes, so that is a good question. Again, we pointed out, all of those regions, Mexico -- I mean, all of this right around here. If you fall

within this line, it's still very possible. Now, what we don't know is whether there is a connection between all of this. Would the Mexican quake

trigger another quake elsewhere? Would, you know, say in Japan, would that then trigger a volcanic eruption somewhere in Indonesia?

Seismologists don't necessarily have concrete evidence to connect all of those, but at the end of the day, just know that it's always a possibility

along the ring of fire because this is where 90 percent of the world's earthquakes take place and there's also about 450 volcanoes that also lie

within this ring. Kristie?

LU STOUT: Allison, thank you so much for mapping it all up for us so clearly. Allison Chinchar there reporting. Take care.

You're watching "News Stream." Still to come, what leaders in Hong Kong must do to ease the political tension in the city. Here is what its last

colonial governor has to say about that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back. Here in Hong Kong, a bitter feud has been enfolding on university campuses over the past month or so. Some local students have

been posting banners and posters calling for Hong Kong independence. This caused open arguments with students from mainland China who oppose any talk

of separatism.

The clashes have heightened tension in the city. There has been a lot of soul searching in Hong Kong since its handover back to China in 1977. Now,

more than 20 years on, Hong Kong's last British colonial governor has returned for a visit.

Chris Patten was recently here to promote a new book and to address concerns about the city's growing political divide as well as rising

interference from Beijing. I started by asking him about the university rally and what it takes to bring the temperature down.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS PATTEN, FORMER GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG: Well, one way of putting it down is to talk to the students. The last time I was here, I said that I

was totally in favor of greater democracy in Hong Kong, but I didn't think it was a good idea to ask for independence because it was never going to

happen.

And it diluted support for democracy and it provoked the worst of reactions from communist mainland officials when I was here a year ago. Joshua Wong

and his colleagues asked me if I go to the university and talk to the students.

So I went up to Hong Kong U and they have students from all the campuses. There must have been 600 or 700 students in that big hall of the

university. I talked to them for an hour, hour and a half. They didn't agree with me the whole time, but we had a serious dialogue. I don't think

anybody has talked to them since.

LU STOUT (on camera): You said that there needs to be more dialogue. You also said that campaigning for independence is counterproductive, because -

-

PATTEN: Yes.

LU STOUT (on camera): -- it only serves to provoke Beijing.

[08:40:00] But do you feel sympathy for the students who are frustrated by the lack of political reform?

PATTEN: Of course.

LU STOUT (on camera): Yes.

PATTEN: Yes. And I can't understand --

LU STOUT (on camera): Do you feel sympathy for the students who are asking for independence? Because they're so desperate for solution.

PATTEN: I sympathize with the fact that they feel so frustrated, that they are driven to say things I don't agree with. I'm just surprised because

most of the members of the administration, presumably, have children themselves and probably children who have gone through those difficult

teenage years and maybe into their 20s or more.

They must know perfectly well that if you make demands of your children but never explain to them, never and try to argue your point of view, they're

likely to do things which you find rather awkward or embarrassing. Now, these young people are much more mature than that.

But I think it's extraordinary that three years after those demonstrations, which you and others covered so well here in Hong Kong and which inspired

so much enthusiastic recognition for what they meant in the rest of the world, three years after that, nobody has talked to them. All the people

(INAUDIBLE) is lucky enough to things they did then which is, I think, rather regarded as curious by the rest of the world.

LU STOUT (on camera): Back in 1996, you predicted a form of erosion from within. It was your final policy address as governor of Hong Kong. You said

that Hong Kong's economy would not be usurped by Beijing, but it would be given away bit by t by some people in Hong Kong. Is that what's happening

today?

PATTEN: I think Hong Kong has to be on its guard whenever it sees things like the suggestion that judges should all be patriotic, because they're

administrators here in Hong Kong. When they hear about the abductions, when other things happen like that, when they realize how much the Beijing

liaison office in Hong Kong is interfering in Hong Kong's -- what should be Hong Kong's autonomous affairs, I think it is a time for being pretty

vigilant.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Call for more vigilance for Hong Kong there. We will have more thoughts now Chris Patten, Hong Kong's last colonial governor on "News

Stream" later this week, including why he thinks countries like Britain should not be afraid to stand up to China, even when billions of dollars of

trade is on the line.

That is "News Stream." I'm Kristie Lu Stout. Don't go anywhere. "World Sport" with Alex Thomas is next.

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