Peter Lai

BA (Hons) HKU

After graduating from the Hong Kong University with a First-Class Honours degree in History (major in Modern Chinese History) in 1973 Peter joined the Administrative Service, and held various political and managerial posts.

With the ratification of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong in 1985, he was involved almost continuously in negotiations between the British and Chinese sides on the transition of Hong Kong, from a British Dependant Territory to a Chinese Special Administrative Region, until the reversion of sovereignty on 1 July 1997. He was the author of numerous papers used in these negotiation at the diplomatic level between the two governments, and was personally involved in many of the negotiations including over Hong Kong's political system in 1993. He also contributed to White Papers on the development of representative government in Hong Kong, and to the drafting of the Basic Law.

In 1995 Peter was appointed the first local Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Government, and he remained in this capacity until his departure from the public service in mid-1998.

Email: alicelai@iinet.net.au