Lawrence Lau Wai-chung 劉偉聰
Barrister and Former Member of Sham Shui Po District Council
Date of Birth:
January 4, 1968
Gender:
Male
Tags:
NSL 47; Human Rights Lawyer; District Council Member
Behind Bars Since
Bio
Lawrence Lau Wai-chung is a barrister who has served as both a deputy magistrate and a Sham Shui Po District Councillor. Lau completed his studies at the University of Hong Kong, where he earned a Bachelor of Laws degree. Subsequently, he was appointed as Deputy Special Magistrate and Deputy Magistrate at the District Court. [1]
In the 2019 local elections, Lau contested in his home constituency of Yau Yat Tsuen in Sham Shui Po. He secured a victory by defeating the pro-business incumbent, Dominic Lee, with a 2% margin. [2] Lau also participated in the pro-democracy primaries in 2020, but was defeated.
Lau is renowned for representing protesters with grievances against the government. He has taken on several high-profile cases, including defending a woman accused of assaulting a police officer with her breast, [3] offering legal support to protesters during the 2016 Mong Kok police-civilian incident, [4] and representing Tong Ying-kit in Hong Kong's inaugural national security trial in 2021. [5]
In January 2021, Lau was arrested by national security police on charges of subversion stemming from his involvement in the Primaries. In September 2021, Lau was ousted from the Sham Shui Po District Council after the authorities deemed his oath of loyalty, which pledged allegiance to the Hong Kong Government, invalid. [6]
Photo: Facebook
Charges
Conspiracy to commit subversion under the National Security Law for participating in the democratic primaries
Jan. 6, 2021: Arrested alongside 54 other pro-democracy activists
March 4, 2021: Released on Bail
July 6, 7, 2021: Testified in Court, Pled not guilty, Trial concluded, Awaiting sentencing.
Mailing Address
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