Lu Ping (Chinese: 陆平; 30 September 1927 – 31 July 2015) was a Chinese diplomat and senior government official who played a prominent role in the administration of Hong Kong and Macau during the period leading up to their return to Chinese sovereignty. He served as deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council and was a key figure in the negotiations and public communication surrounding the 1997 handover of Hong Kong and the 1999 handover of Macau.
Early life and education
Lu Ping was born in Yichang, Hubei Province, Republic of China. He pursued higher education in the United Kingdom, obtaining a degree in economics from the University of Liverpool. After completing his studies, he returned to China and entered the diplomatic service.
Diplomatic career
Beginning in the 1950s, Lu held various positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including postings in the United Nations and in foreign missions in Europe and Africa. In 1978, he was appointed director of the Department of International Organizations, where he contributed to China’s participation in multilateral forums.
Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office
In 1992, Lu was appointed deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council, the central government body responsible for the administration of the two Special Administrative Regions (SARs). In this capacity, he acted as the chief spokesperson for the Chinese government on matters related to the handovers. Lu is best known for his public statements emphasizing the principle of "one country, two systems," a constitutional framework proposed by Deng Xiaoping for the governance of Hong Kong and Macau after their return to China.
During the lead‑up to the 1997 Hong Kong handover, Lu frequently addressed the press and conducted briefings, defending the Chinese government's position on issues such as democratic reforms and the pace of political development in the SAR. He also participated in the Sino‑British Joint Declaration implementation process and later in the drafting of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini‑constitution.
Later life and legacy
After the 1997 and 1999 handovers, Lu continued to serve in the HKMAO until his retirement in 2000. He remained an influential commentator on Hong Kong affairs, occasionally appearing in academic conferences and media interviews. Lu Ping died on 31 July 2015 in Beijing at the age of 87.
Recognition
Lu was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal, the highest honor of the Hong Kong SAR, in 1997 for his contributions to the handover process. He was also a member of several Chinese academic institutions focusing on international relations and political science.
References
- "Lu Ping, chief architect of Hong Kong handover, dies at 87." South China Morning Post, 1 August 2015.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. Biographical Sketches of Senior Officials, 1998.
- Hong Kong SAR Government. Basic Law and its Development, 2000.
Note: This article is based on publicly available sources and reflects the consensus view of Lu Ping’s career as recorded in reputable encyclopedic references.
