CHINA'S top official on Hong Kong affairs, Lu Ping, is considering two invitations to visit the territory this autumn. But friends of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office chief say that, while he is believed to be eager to make his first visit in more than 18 months, it will not go ahead unless the political reform row has been resolved. Mr Lu has been invited to officiate at an opening ceremony at the Chinese University, and to take part in a campaign organised by the newly-formed Joint Committee on Promoting the Basic Law to raise public consciousness about the Basic Law. Mr Lu is already an adviser to the committee. Organiser Cheng Kai-nam said he had invited Mr Lu to visit the territory when the campaign starts in late October, but there had been no response yet.
