The Dalai Lama has told the BBC's Newsnight he does not know whether he will be the last to hold the title.

"Whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue or not is up to the Tibetan people," he told the BBC's Yalda Hakim.

"There's no guarantee some stupid Dalai Lama won't come next, who will disgrace himself or herself.

"That would be very sad. So, much better that a centuries old tradition should cease at the time of a quite popular Dalai Lama."

In the wide-ranging interview, during a visit to Rome for the 14th World Summit of Nobel Laureates, he was also asked about Britain's stance with China over the Hong Kong protests.