Emily Lau
Encyclopedia
Emily Lau Wai-hing JP
(Chinese:
劉慧卿; born 21 January 1952, Hong Kong
) is one of two vice-chairmen of Democratic Party
.
She was the convenor of The Frontier
. She has been a full-time member of the Legislative Council
(Legco) since 1991, elected from the geographical constituency
of New Territories East.
Lau used to be strong against the Beijing Government
and pro-Beijing supporters, but her stance is now changed to be moderate
and compromised after joining the Democratic Party.
in 1976, and later earned her MSc
in International Relations
at the London School of Economics
.
in 1976. From 1987 to 1990 she was a lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Communication of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
, and also a lecturer of the Certificate in Journalism in the Department of Extra Mural Studies of the University of Hong Kong. Lau was the chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association
from 1989 to 1991.
(Legco), in September 1991, and co-founded The Frontier
party in 1996. She served as a legislator until 1997, and was re-elected in 1998.
Lau defends an assertive political platform in the democratic camp. An outspoken critic of the human rights
situation, the progress of democratisation and a number of other policy areas in the HKSAR, she proved skeptical over the implementation of "One country two systems" principle. The Platform of the Frontier reflects her stances. Beside pushing for tightened human rights protection, more efforts on equal opportunities
, and the establishment of a statutory right to access to information, she demanded a redraft of the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document, and democratisation in China
. On the economy she supported legislation on fair trading, oppose importation of foreign labour, and called for a minimum wage
.
On international issues, Lau is supportive of self-determination for Taiwan. In 2003, she and another legislator, James To
of the Democratic Party
, attended a seminar entitled "Hong Kong Under One Country, Two Systems" organised by a pro-Taiwan independence
group headed by former ROC President Lee Teng-hui
. Lau stated that "Taiwan's future should be determined by the Taiwan people themselves". Her subsequent refusal to explicitly recognise Taiwan as a part of the PRC during an interview again drew criticism from more conservative sectors of the Hong Kong society.
In June 2010, as vice-chairperson of Democratic Party, she voted with her party in favour of the government’s 2012 constitutional reform package, which included the party's late amendment – accepted by the Beijing government
– to hold a popular vote for five new District Council functional constituencies
.
due to the latter's slow response over her queries for personal information. She lost the case and was ordered by the court to pay a legal fee of HK$1.6 million. Claiming that her lawsuit was in the public interest, she attempted to raise funds from the public to repay the debt. In December 2000, with over $1 million still outstanding, the agency (now the Central People's Government Liaison Office) applied to the court for her bankruptcy.
Lau visited Taipei for a symposium on Hong Kong after the failure of the government to enact legislation on Article 23
, pro-PRC media in Hong Kong attacked her personally by publishing half-page articles calling her the "Taiwan independence Legco member". Local communists also attempted to discredit her; they even reported her to the police.
Beside her legal problems, Lau has been the subject of several criminal nuisance cases, including telephone nuisance to her office in January and October 2003, and two cases where food and/or feces were splashed outside her office in Shatin in July and September 2003. A woman and an old man were arrested and fined in connection with some of these cases. Most notably, an arson
attack against Lau's office took place on 21 June 2004. Posters outside her office, about an upcoming rally, were burned. Words were left saying "All Chinese traitors must die (所有漢汗（奸）都要死)". Paradoxically, such attacks exemplify how much freedom of speech remain possible in today's Hong Kong.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(Chinese:
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
劉慧卿; born 21 January 1952, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
) is one of two vice-chairmen of Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Hong Kong)
The Democratic Party is a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong. It was established on 2 October 1994. The party is currently the second largest party in the Legislative Council, headed by Chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan and, following the November 2008 merger with the Frontier, had around 745...
.
She was the convenor of The Frontier
The Frontier (Hong Kong)
The Frontier was a relatively radical pro-democracy political group in the Hong Kong. It was established on 26 August 1996. The group was headed by former convenor Emily Lau Wai-hing since its establishment as a loose group of individual pro-democracy activists.On 23 November 2008, the Frontier...
. She has been a full-time member of the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
(Legco) since 1991, elected from the geographical constituency
Geographical constituency
In Hong Kong and Macau, geographical constituencies, as opposed to functional constituencies, are elected by all eligible voters according to geographically demarcated constituencies. There are currently 5 geographical constituencies in Hong Kong...
of New Territories East.
Lau used to be strong against the Beijing Government
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and pro-Beijing supporters, but her stance is now changed to be moderate
Moderate
In politics and religion, a moderate is an individual who is not extreme, partisan or radical. In recent years, political moderates has gained traction as a buzzword....
and compromised after joining the Democratic Party.
Education
Lau obtained a BA degree in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1976, and later earned her MSc
MSC
- Computers:* Mario Strikers Charged* Microsoft Common Console Document, file for the Microsoft Management Console* Microelectronics Support Centre* Microsoft Corporation* MIDI Show Control* Message Sequence Chart...
in International Relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
Early career
She began her career as a journalistJournalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
in 1976. From 1987 to 1990 she was a lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Communication of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a research-led university in Hong Kong.CUHK is the only tertiary education institution in Hong Kong with Nobel Prize winners on its faculty, including Chen Ning Yang, James Mirrlees, Robert Alexander Mundell and Charles K. Kao...
, and also a lecturer of the Certificate in Journalism in the Department of Extra Mural Studies of the University of Hong Kong. Lau was the chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association
Hong Kong Journalists Association
The Hong Kong Journalists Association was established in 1968 for practising journalists in Hong Kong "to enhance press freedom and the integrity of news coverage"...
from 1989 to 1991.
Political career
Lau was the first woman to be directly elected into the Legislative CouncilLegislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
(Legco), in September 1991, and co-founded The Frontier
The Frontier (Hong Kong)
The Frontier was a relatively radical pro-democracy political group in the Hong Kong. It was established on 26 August 1996. The group was headed by former convenor Emily Lau Wai-hing since its establishment as a loose group of individual pro-democracy activists.On 23 November 2008, the Frontier...
party in 1996. She served as a legislator until 1997, and was re-elected in 1998.
Lau defends an assertive political platform in the democratic camp. An outspoken critic of the human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
situation, the progress of democratisation and a number of other policy areas in the HKSAR, she proved skeptical over the implementation of "One country two systems" principle. The Platform of the Frontier reflects her stances. Beside pushing for tightened human rights protection, more efforts on equal opportunities
Equal opportunity
Equal opportunity, or equality of opportunity, is a controversial political concept; and an important informal decision-making standard without a precise definition involving fair choices within the public sphere...
, and the establishment of a statutory right to access to information, she demanded a redraft of the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document, and democratisation in China
Chinese democracy movement
The Chinese democracy movement refers to a series of loosely organized political movements in the People's Republic of China against the continued one-party rule by the Communist Party. One such movement began during the Beijing Spring in 1978 and was taken up again in the Tiananmen Square...
. On the economy she supported legislation on fair trading, oppose importation of foreign labour, and called for a minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
.
On international issues, Lau is supportive of self-determination for Taiwan. In 2003, she and another legislator, James To
James To
James To Kun-sun is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong representing the Kowloon West constituency. James To was also a member of the Yau Tsim Mong District Council until 2007.-Views, policy positions and Legco voting:...
of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Hong Kong)
The Democratic Party is a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong. It was established on 2 October 1994. The party is currently the second largest party in the Legislative Council, headed by Chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan and, following the November 2008 merger with the Frontier, had around 745...
, attended a seminar entitled "Hong Kong Under One Country, Two Systems" organised by a pro-Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence is a political movement whose goals are primarily to formally establish the Republic of Taiwan by renaming or replacing the Republic of China , form a Taiwanese national identity, reject unification and One country, two systems with the People's Republic of China and a Chinese...
group headed by former ROC President Lee Teng-hui
Lee Teng-hui
Lee Teng-hui is a politician of the Republic of China . He was the 7th, 8th, and 9th-term President of the Republic of China and Chairman of the Kuomintang from 1988 to 2000. He presided over major advancements in democratic reforms including his own re-election which marked the first direct...
. Lau stated that "Taiwan's future should be determined by the Taiwan people themselves". Her subsequent refusal to explicitly recognise Taiwan as a part of the PRC during an interview again drew criticism from more conservative sectors of the Hong Kong society.
In June 2010, as vice-chairperson of Democratic Party, she voted with her party in favour of the government’s 2012 constitutional reform package, which included the party's late amendment – accepted by the Beijing government
Government of the People's Republic of China
All power within the government of the People's Republic of China is divided among three bodies: the People's Republic of China, State Council, and the People's Liberation Army . This article is concerned with the formal structure of the state, its departments and their responsibilities...
– to hold a popular vote for five new District Council functional constituencies
Functional constituency
In the political systems of Hong Kong and Macau, a functional constituency is a professional or special interest group involved in the electoral process...
.
Controversies and attacks
In 1998, Lau sued the Hong Kong branch of the Xinhua News AgencyXinhua News Agency
The Xinhua News Agency is the official press agency of the government of the People's Republic of China and the biggest center for collecting information and press conferences in the PRC. It is the largest news agency in the PRC, ahead of the China News Service...
due to the latter's slow response over her queries for personal information. She lost the case and was ordered by the court to pay a legal fee of HK$1.6 million. Claiming that her lawsuit was in the public interest, she attempted to raise funds from the public to repay the debt. In December 2000, with over $1 million still outstanding, the agency (now the Central People's Government Liaison Office) applied to the court for her bankruptcy.
Lau visited Taipei for a symposium on Hong Kong after the failure of the government to enact legislation on Article 23
Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23
Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 is the basis of a security law proposed by the Government of Hong Kong. It states:On 24 September 2002 the government released its proposals for the anti-subversion law. It is the cause of considerable controversy and division in Hong Kong, which operates as a...
, pro-PRC media in Hong Kong attacked her personally by publishing half-page articles calling her the "Taiwan independence Legco member". Local communists also attempted to discredit her; they even reported her to the police.
Beside her legal problems, Lau has been the subject of several criminal nuisance cases, including telephone nuisance to her office in January and October 2003, and two cases where food and/or feces were splashed outside her office in Shatin in July and September 2003. A woman and an old man were arrested and fined in connection with some of these cases. Most notably, an arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
attack against Lau's office took place on 21 June 2004. Posters outside her office, about an upcoming rally, were burned. Words were left saying "All Chinese traitors must die (所有漢汗（奸）都要死)". Paradoxically, such attacks exemplify how much freedom of speech remain possible in today's Hong Kong.
External links
- Home Page of Emily Lau
- Emily Lau's Letter to former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook (In the letter she urged the UK to grant British citizenship for all BN(O)s)
- Emily Lau biography in German and interview in English in cosmopolis.ch