Lawrence Lau

Lawrence Lau Wai-chung (Chinese: 劉偉聰; born 4 January 1968) is a Hong Kong barrister. Having served as police, deputy magistrate, and Sham Shui Po District Councillor, Lau was arrested in 2020 for joining pro-democracy primaries as one of the Hong Kong 47.

Early life

Lau was born into a grassroots family and read Bachelor of Laws at the University of Hong Kong while leading the university's debate team. After graduation in 1993, Lau failed to join the Civil Service despite receiving a conditional offer of Administrative Officer. Having joined the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, he then worked for Allen Lee, founding chairman of Liberal Party, of writing speeches until the late 1990s. Lau was called to the Bar in 1995.

In 2000 Lau went to London School of Economics to study political philosophy but unable to receive a doctorate after disputes with his doctoral advisor, subsequently returning to Hong Kong in 2005. Five years later he was appointed Deputy Special Magistrate and Deputy Magistrate at the District Court. After serving in court, Lau took up multiple notable cases, including in defence for a woman assaulting a police officer with her breast, and for Mong Kok unrest protestors, including Lo Kin-man who received the harshest sentencing.

Political career

With limited participation in street protests, Lau ran in 2019 local elections at his home constituency Yau Yat Tsuen amidst the large scale protest, defeating pro-business incumbent Dominic Lee with a margin of 2%. Believing not much can do in the District Council and wishing to work in the parliament to amend legislation suppressing human rights, Lau announced his intention to run in the legislative election in 2020 for Kowloon West constituency. He joined the pro-democracy primaries in the same year but was defeated.

In January 2021, Lau was arrested by national security police for subversion over his participation in the primaries. He was charged in late February along with others known as Hong Kong 47. After remanded for around two weeks, he was released on court bail. Lau pleaded not guilty to the charge, and defended himself in court.

While tried for subversion, Lau continued representing Tong Ying-kit in Hong Kong's first national security trial in 2021. Lau was later removed from Tong's lawyer team responsible for his appeal, after criticism from pro-Beijing media.

In September 2021, Lau was unseated from the Sham Shui Po District Council after his oath of loyalty pledging allegiance to the Hong Kong Government was ruled invalid by the authorities.

Personal life

Lau kept two cats named Chen Yinke and Dworkin, after the historian and the legal philosopher.