Former HK and Macau Office head Lu Ping dies

The former director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), Lu Ping, died of cancer on Sunday night in Beijing at the age of 87. Lu was appointed HKMAO director in 1990 and retired in 1997, just days after the handover of Hong Kong. He was mainland’s top official who oversaw the handover process. Lu was known for referring to the last British governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, as a “sinner” after he increased public involvement in electing lawmakers by making partial amendments to the electoral system.  He continued to comment on Hong Kong’s future saying in a 2009 interview that the city should stop relying on favors from Beijing and improve its competitiveness, according to the South China Morning Post. Lu also praised Macau for its successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle during a talk on the topic of basic law last December, describing the city as a “good example”.