Lawrence Lau (barrister)
Lawrence Lau | |
|---|---|
劉偉聰 | |
.png) Lau in 2020 | |
| Sham Shui Po District Councillor | |
| In office 1 January 2020 – 29 September 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Dominic Lee |
| Constituency | Yau Yat Tsuen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 January 1968 Hong Kong |
| Alma mater | University of Hong Kong (LLB) |
| Occupation | Barrister |
| Known for | Hong Kong 47 |
| Website | Lawrence Lau on Facebook Lawrence Lau's channel on YouTube |
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
[edit]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,[1] 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.[2]
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.[3] After serving in court, Lau took up multiple notable cases, including in defence for a woman assaulting a police officer with her breast,[4] and for Mong Kok unrest protestors,[5] including Lo Kin-man who received the harshest sentencing.[6]
Political career
[edit]With limited participation in street protests,[2] 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,[7] 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. On 30 May 2024, Lau was one of two defendants who were acquitted, the other being Lee Yue-shun, because the court found that he had not mentioned an intention to veto the budget or subvert state power.[8] The Department of Justice has appealed the aquittal.[9]
While tried for subversion, Lau continued representing Tong Ying-kit in Hong Kong's first national security trial in 2021.[10][11] Lau was later removed from Tong's lawyer team responsible for his appeal,[12] 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.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "逆權大狀劉偉聰 從歷史傷口看司法". Our Voice. 2019-11-22. Archived from the original on 2021-06-11. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
- ^ a b "代表暴動罪被告 大狀劉偉聰：我能做的，是打好官司". Citizen News. 2018-08-30. Archived from the original on 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
- ^ "【蘋人誌】法律不等如公義 逆權大狀劉偉聰". Apple Daily. 2019-10-04. Archived from the original on 2020-06-05.
- ^ "Woman convicted of 'assaulting cop with her breast' maintains she's innocent". South China Morning Post. 2015-07-30. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ Cheung, Karen (2018-05-23). "Court asked to consider training centre order for 19-year-old in Mong Kok unrest mitigation". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ "代表盧建民大狀求情：犯案源於對警察憤怒 昔日偏見已改 明白警非罪魁禍首". Citizen News (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2021-05-18. Archived from the original on 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ "大狀擬戰區選 冀光復又一村". Apple Daily. 2019-09-21. Archived from the original on 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
- ^ Leung, Kanis; Soo, Zen (30 May 2024). "14 pro-democracy activists convicted, 2 acquitted in Hong Kong's biggest national security case". Associated Press. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "DoJ appeals against Lawrence Lau's acquittal over 35+ subversion case". The Standard. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Ho, Kelly. "Activist Tong Ying-kit found guilty in Hong Kong's first national security trial". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ "Hong Kong man accused of 'terrorism' under new Chinese law". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ Ho, Kelly. "Hong Kong court to hear challenge to national security law conviction next March". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ Kwan, Rhoda (2021-09-30). "Hong Kong disqualifies 10 more district councillors over 'invalid' oaths of loyalty, no explanation given". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 2023-03-21.