{{Short description|Hong Kong politician (born 1976)}} {{Use British English|date=June 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Lau Siu-lai | image = 再有4名香港民主派立法會議員被法庭取消資格14.jpg | alt = | caption = | native_name = {{nobold|劉小麗}} | native_name_lang = zh-hk | birth_name = Lau Siu-lai | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1976|8|3}} | birth_place = [[British Hong Kong]] | education = | occupation = Lecturer | known_for = | office1 = Member of the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]] | term_start2 = 1 October 2016 | term_end2 = 14 July 2017{{efn|Lau served as member of the Legislative Council until 14 July 2017 when her oath on 12 October 2016 was invalidated and her seat was vacated according to the ruling of the [[Court of First Instance (Hong Kong)|Court of First Instance]].}} | predecessor2 = [[Wong Yuk-man]] | successor2 = [[Chan Hoi-yan]] | constituency2 = [[Kowloon West (1998 constituency)|Kowloon West]] | party = [[Labour Party (Hong Kong)|Labour Party]] (2018-2020) | other_party = Democracy Groundwork | website = [https://siulai.hk/ Official website of Democratic Groundwork] | alma_mater = [[Chinese University of Hong Kong]] (B.Soc.Sc. in Sociology; M.Phil. in Sociology; PhD in Sociology) }} {{Infobox Chinese | order = ts | t = 劉小麗 | s = 刘小丽 | j = {{Tone superscript|Lau4 Siu2-lai6}} | y = Làuh Síu-laih | p = Liú Xiǎolì }}
'''Lau Siu-lai''' ({{lang-zh|t=劉小麗}}; born 3 August 1976) is a Hong Kong educator, academic, activist, and politician. She is a sociology lecturer at the [[Hong Kong Polytechnic University]]'s [[Hong Kong Community College]] and the founder of Democracy Groundwork and Age of Resistance.<ref name="staff"/> In 2016, Lau was elected to the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]], representing the [[Kowloon West (1998 constituency)|Kowloon West]] [[geographical constituency]] until she was disqualified by the court on 14 July 2017 over her oath-taking manner at the inaugural meeting of the Legislative Council on 12 October 2016.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4856181/hong-kong-lawmakers-oath-china-disqualified/|title=Four More Hong Kong Lawmakers Ousted In a Blow to Democratic Hopes|magazine=TIME|date=14 July 2017}}</ref>
==Background == Lau holds a bachelor's degree in social science, a master of philosophy in sociology, and a PhD in cultural sociology and historical sociology from the [[Chinese University of Hong Kong]].<ref name="staff">{{cite web|title=Dr LAU, Siu-lai|url=http://www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/staff_directory/humanities_design_social_sciences/LAU,_Siu-lai-116.html|website=Staff Directory|publisher=Hong Kong Community College|accessdate=5 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130204300/http://www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/staff_directory/humanities_design_social_sciences/LAU,_Siu-lai-116.html|archive-date=30 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> She worked as a tutor at the Chinese University for a decade before joining the faculty of the Hong Kong Community College.<ref name="staff"/> Lau taught a variety of sociology classes including Introduction to Sociology, Sociological Theories, Hong Kong Society, Medical Society, Social Problems, and Gender Issues.<ref name="staff"/>
She gained prominence establishing Democracy Groundwork to hold "Democracy Classrooms" during the [[2014 Hong Kong protests|2014 pro-democratic protests]], teaching protesters about social justice and democracy.<ref name="teacher">{{cite news|last1=Ng|first1=Kang-chung|title=CY Leung not the problem, Hong Kong's political system is, says Polytechnic University lecturer-turned-activist 'Teacher Siu-lai'|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1992940/cy-leung-not-problem-hong-kongs-political-system-says|work=South China Morning Post|date=21 July 2016}}</ref> In this role she earned the moniker "Teacher Siu-lai" ({{lang-zh|小麗老師}}).<ref name="teacher"/>
Lau has challenged the [[Hawkers in Hong Kong|Hong Kong government's suppression of hawking]], and the crackdown on the traditional [[Kweilin Street Night Market]], on the grounds that government policies toward street trading serves to bolster the hegemony of Hong Kong's dominant property conglomerates while unjustly persecuting the poor.<ref name="accused">{{cite news|last1=Lau|first1=Chris|title=Hong Kong woman accused of hawking without a licence blames 'unscrupulous government'|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1919096/hong-kong-woman-accused-hawking-without-licence-blames|work=South China Morning Post|date=1 March 2016}}</ref> Lau has hawked food herself, as an act of [[civil disobedience]], in support of hawkers.<ref name="pepper">{{cite news|last1=Pepper|first1=Suzanne|title=Election 2016: Suzanne Pepper's district-by-district campaign trail notes|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/08/31/suzanne-peppers-district-by-district-campaign-trail-notes/|work=Hong Kong Free Press|date=31 August 2016}}</ref> She has organised street markets in [[Mei Foo Sun Chuen|Mei Foo]], [[Sham Shui Po]] and [[Wong Tai Sin, Hong Kong|Wong Tai Sin]] to demonstrate that hawking can be conducted in an orderly manner.<ref name="champs"/> She urges the government to once again issue hawker licences, and to allow street markets throughout the territory to provide more choice to consumers.<ref name="champs"/>
Until 2016, authorities had turned a blind eye to the Lunar New Year market on Kweilin Street, considered a staple of Hong Kong culture.<ref name="really"/> On 7 February 2016, the eve of the Lunar New Year, the [[Food and Environmental Hygiene Department]] (FEHD) officers took a hardline stance against the market, chasing away the vendors. Lau set up a stall in the street and sold squid in defiance, and was arrested.<ref name="champs">{{cite news|last1=Mak|first1=Adeline|title=Hawker champ eyes Legco|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news.php?id=171610|work=[[The Standard (Hong Kong)|The Standard]]|date=15 July 2016}}</ref> In response to the crackdown, localist group [[Hong Kong Indigenous]] called on supporters to come out on 8 February to help "protect" the hawkers and the night markets. The FEHD and police again took action against the markets, resulting in a [[2016 Mong Kok civil unrest|major civil disturbance]].<ref name="really">{{cite news|last1=Moss|first1=Stephen|title=Is Hong Kong really rioting over fishball stands?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2016/feb/09/hong-kong-fish-ball-revolution-china-riot|work=The Guardian|date=9 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="warning">{{cite news|last1=McKirdy|first1=Euan|last2=Chan|first2=Wilfred|title=Hong Kong police fire warning shots during Mong Kok fishball 'riot'|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/08/asia/hong-kong-riots-shots-fired/|publisher=CNN|date=9 February 2016}}</ref>
In response to her arrest, Lau said the government's stance was unreasonable, as hawking provides jobs, lowers the cost of living, and gives residents choice in the face of neighbourhoods dominated by corporate powers.<ref name="fined">{{cite news|last1=Lau|first1=Chris|title=Hong Kong lecturer fined HK$1,800 for selling fried squid without licence|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1977982/hong-kong-lecturer-fined-hk1800-selling-fried-squid-without|work=South China Morning Post|date=20 June 2016}}</ref> Lau appeared at Kowloon City Magistrates' Court on 20 June 2016. Two officers from the FEHD testified that they saw Lau heat up squid with a frying pan and sell a man a skewer for HK$10.<ref name="friedsquid"/> She was convicted on three counts, namely: obstruction of a public space, hawking without a licence, and cooking food for the purpose of hawking without a licence.<ref name="friedsquid"/> She was fined HK$1,800 and her hawking gear was seized under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance.<ref name="friedsquid"/><ref name="fined"/> Lau stated that she would continue to hawk and would continue to support hawkers.<ref name="friedsquid">{{cite news|last1=Chung|first1=Flora|title=Fried squid lecturer fined in hawker fight|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news.php?id=170710|work=The Standard|date=21 June 2016}}</ref>
Lau's educational career is under jeopardy due to her hawking-related activism. In mid-2016 the Hong Kong Polytechnic University launched a disciplinary hearing against her for "moonlighting" as she reportedly earned HK$10 selling snacks.<ref name="moonlighting">{{cite news|last1=Cheng|first1=Kris|title=Pro-democracy lecturer faces 'moonlighting' hearing after earning HK$10 whilst supporting food hawkers|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/06/30/pro-democracy-lecturer-faces-moonlighting-hearing-after-earning-hk10-whilst-supporting-food-hawkers/|work=[[Hong Kong Free Press]]|date=30 June 2016}}</ref> Lau said that the university's actions were politically motivated, stating that senior figures at the institute had told her that the president was under pressure from the university's governing council to take action against her.<ref name="moonlighting"/><ref name="hawkinghong">{{cite news|last1=Lau|first1=Stuart|title=Hawking Hong Kong Polytechnic University lecturer faces 'moonlighting' hearing|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1983254/hawking-hong-kong-polytechnic-university-lecturer-faces|work=South China Morning Post|date=30 June 2016}}</ref> Lau donated the $10 to her Democracy Groundwork and defended herself, stating that there was no conflict of interest, that hawking does not constitute formal employment, and that the ban on moonlighting applied only to full-time faculty (while she was a part-time lecturer at the time).<ref name="moonlighting"/>
== Political career== === 2016 election and platform === Running under the banner of Democracy Groundwork, Lau was elected to the Legislative Council in the [[2016 Hong Kong legislative election|2016 election]], representing the [[geographical constituency]] of [[Kowloon West (1998 constituency)|Kowloon West]]. During her election campaign, Lau stated that if elected her top priorities would be to "push back on '[[white elephant]]' infrastructure projects, implement a universal pension scheme, legislate standard working hours, reform housing policy, and restart electoral reform."<ref name="toppicks"/>
Lau calls for the reform of Hong Kong's political system. She believes it is ineffective to fight against [[Leung Chun-ying]] on the grounds that, "You kick away Leung and Beijing will give you another one as bad as him, if not worse. We need to reform the system."<ref name="teacher"/> She has rejected the idea of [[Hong Kong independence]] as "unrealistic", but says the issue should be open for discussion.<ref name="teacher"/><ref name="peaceful">{{cite news|last1=Ng|first1=Joyce|last2=Lo|first2=Kinling|last3=Lam|first3=Jeffie|title=Peaceful Hong Kong localists triumph over militants in Legislative Council elections|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2015323/peaceful-hong-kong-localists-triumph-over-militants|work=South China Morning Post|date=5 September 2016}}</ref> She advocates a "very high" degree of autonomy for Hong Kong and the protection of local culture.<ref name="localist">{{cite news|last1=Ng|first1=Joyce|title=Hong Kong localist election candidates mount funding campaigns to keep donors anonymous|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2005238/emergency-hong-kong-localist-election-candidates-mount-hk999|work=South China Morning Post|date=17 August 2016}}</ref>
In addition to her above views on hawkers, Lau is critical of [[Link REIT]], a private real estate company whose assets primarily comprise shopping centres, markets, and car parks in public housing estates.<ref name="fined"/><ref name="getset">{{cite news|last1=Kwok|first1=Ben|title=Get set for exciting battles in the new Legco|url=http://www.ejinsight.com/20160906-get-set-for-exciting-battles-in-the-new-legco/|work=[[Hong Kong Economic Journal]]|date=6 September 2016}}</ref> Link REIT exercises a ''de facto'' monopoly in many low-income areas, and has been subject to numerous protests due to rapid rent increases, eviction of local shops in favour of chain operators, and property management outsourcing.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Yuen|first1=Chantal|title=Pan-democratic groups protest against Link REIT's outsourcing and rent rises|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/27/pan-democratic-groups-protest-against-link-reits-outsourcing-and-rent-rises/|work=Hong Kong Free Press|date=27 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="morewet">{{cite news|last1=Wong|first1=David|title=More wet and dry public markets would foster healthy competition|url=http://www.chinadailyasia.com/opinion/2016-06/13/content_15448293.html|work=China Daily|date=13 June 2016|archive-date=14 September 2016|access-date=6 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914160811/http://www.chinadailyasia.com/opinion/2016-06/13/content_15448293.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> There have been calls for the government to buy back properties owned by the Link REIT, most of which were divested from the [[Hong Kong Housing Authority|Housing Authority]] in 2005.<ref name="morewet"/> Lau said that allowing more hawking and street markets would provide more choice and spur competition.<ref name="toppicks">{{cite news|last1=Ng|first1=Jason Y.|title=Jason Y. Ng's Legco Election Picks Part 3: Kowloon West|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/08/29/jason-y-ngs-legco-election-picks-part-3-kowloon-west/|work=Hong Kong Free Press|date=29 August 2016}}</ref>
The election was held on 4 September 2016, with a total of 36 candidates standing on 15 party lists in the Kowloon West constituency. Standing alone on her list, Lau garnered 38,183 votes, the third highest at 13.69 percent of the total, and the best supported pro-democracy candidate.<ref>{{cite web|title=LegCo General Election results: Kowloon West|url=http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201609/05/P2016090500323.htm|publisher=Government of Hong Kong|date=5 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="cast">{{cite news|last1=Lau|first1=Stuart|last2=Lam|first2=Jeffie|last3=Ng|first3=Joyce|title=Veteran lawmakers cast aside as Legco's new generation appeals for greater say in Hong Kong's political future|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2014824/veteran-lawmakers-cast-aside-legcos-new-generation-appeals|work=[[South China Morning Post]]|date=5 September 2016}}</ref> She is regarded as a member of the [[Localism in Hong Kong|localist]] camp, and pledged to work together with other newly elected localists [[Eddie Chu]] and [[Nathan Law]].<ref name="peaceful"/>
=== Swearing-in and disqualification as legislator=== At the Legislative Council swearing-in on 12 October 2016 Lau first read an altered version of the [[oath of office]] in protest.<ref name="repeat">{{cite news|last1=Leung|first1=Stanley|title=Lawmaker who took 10 mins to deliver 'slow motion' LegCo oath among several told to repeat pledge|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/10/18/lawmaker-who-took-10-mins-to-deliver-slow-motion-legco-oath-among-several-told-to-repeat-pledge/|work=Hong Kong Free Press|date=18 October 2016}}</ref> She was asked to read it again, and she did so extremely slowly.<ref name="jabs">{{cite news|last1=Wong|first1=Alan|title=At Hong Kong Swearing-In, Some Lawmakers Pepper Their Oath With Jabs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/13/world/asia/hong-kong-legislative-council.html|work=The New York Times|date=12 October 2016}}</ref> Other pro-democratic and localist candidates similarly added extra phrases of protest to their oaths.<ref name="jabs"/> LegCo president [[Andrew Leung|Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen]] rejected the oath and sent Lau a notice that read: "The conduct of Ms Lau's oath-taking, objectively assessed, has shown that she was not serious about the affirmation and had no intention to be bound by it."<ref name="repeat"/> Leung asked Lau, [[Baggio Leung]], [[Yau Wai-ching]], and [[Edward Yiu]], who had all protested during their swearing-in, to retake their oaths.<ref name="repeat"/>
The government challenged Leung's decision with regard to Yau and Baggio Leung, in an unprecedented action whereby the government sought to disqualify two democratically elected legislators.<ref name="courtorder">{{cite news|last1=Lau|first1=Stuart|last2=Lee|first2=Eddie|last3=Ng|first3=Joyce|last4=Fung|first4=Owen|last5=Lau|first5=Chris|title=Hong Kong government seeks court order to bar Youngspiration pair from taking Legislative Council oath again|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2029124/hong-kong-government-seeks-court-permission-bar|work=South China Morning Post|date=18 October 2016}}</ref> Lau, despite protesting in a similar manner to Yau Wai-ching and Baggio Leung, did not appear to be targeted by the court order. Lau was finally sworn in on 2 November 2016 by [[Andrew Leung]], despite the protests of [[pro-Beijing camp (Hong Kong)|pro-Beijing camp]]. The judge presiding over Yau and Leung's case ruled in favour of the government on 15 November 2016, disqualifying the duo and barring them from the legislature.<ref name="barred">{{cite news|last1=Ng|first1=Ellie|title=Elected localist lawmakers barred from Hong Kong legislature as gov't wins legal challenge|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/11/15/breaking-localist-lawmakers-face-ejection-from-hong-kong-legislature-as-govt-wins-legal-challenge/|work=Hong Kong Free Press|date=15 November 2016}}</ref>
Jackson Kwan San-wai, who ran at the head of the [[Politihk Social Strategic]] list in the same constituency as Lau but lost, with his list (of two) gaining only 938 votes (0.34%), filed an election petition against Lau in November 2016 on the grounds that by her conduct during the swearing-in she did not uphold the [[Hong Kong Basic Law|Basic Law]]. Politihk Social Strategic is a group of pro-Beijing activists who opposed the [[2014 Hong Kong protests|2014 pro-democratic protests]].<ref name="deposit">{{cite news|last1=Ng|first1=Ellie|title=Election petition against lawmaker Lau Siu-lai may be postponed after opponent failed to pay deposit|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/11/17/election-petition-lawmaker-lau-siu-lai-may-postponed-opponent-failed-pay-deposit/|work=Hong Kong Free Press|date=17 November 2016}}</ref> It was followed by the government launching a second legal action, against her and three other legislators, [[Leung Kwok-hung]] of the [[League of Social Democrats]] (LSD), [[Nathan Law]] of [[Demosisto]] and [[Edward Yiu|Yiu Chung-yim]], on 2 December. The four members were eventually disqualified by the court on 14 July 2017.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Four More Hong Kong Lawmakers Ousted In a Blow to Democratic Hopes|url=https://time.com/4856181/hong-kong-lawmakers-oath-china-disqualified/|magazine=TIME|date=17 July 2017}}</ref>
Lau and Leung pursued a legal appeal against their disqualification, meaning that of the six seats left vacant by the [[Hong Kong Legislative Council oath-taking controversy|removal of pro-democracy Legislative Councillors]], only the other four were contested in the [[March 2018 Hong Kong by-elections|by-election of 11 March 2018]]. However, on 29 May 2018, Lau announced that she was retracting her appeal, given uncertainty from the court about whether it could be heard with Leung's, as well as the cost and high psychological pressure of the case, and the delay it would cause to the opportunity for the [[Pro-democracy camp (Hong Kong)|democratic camp]] to regain the seat in a by-election.<ref>[https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/05/29/former-lawmaker-lau-siu-lai-drops-appeal-disqualification-trigger-election/ Former lawmaker Lau Siu-lai drops appeal against her disqualification to trigger by-election], ''[[Hong Kong Free Press]]'', by Kris Cheng, 29 May 2018</ref>
===Kowloon West by-election 2018 and disqualification=== On 29 June 2018, Lau joined the [[Labour Party (Hong Kong)|Labour Party]], and brought her Democracy Groundwork group on board the party also. She publicly discussed the possibility of running to regain her old seat, either with the Labour Party or independently.<ref name="labour">{{cite news|title=Ousted lawmaker Lau Siu-lai joins pro-democracy Labour Party ahead of legislative by-election|date=29 June 2018|work=Hong Kong Free Press|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/06/29/ousted-lawmaker-lau-siu-lai-joins-pro-democracy-labour-party-ahead-legislative-election/}}</ref>
Also in June, it was announced that the [[November 2018 Kowloon West by-election|by-election for Lau's seat]], the [[geographical constituency]] of [[Kowloon West (1998 constituency)|Kowloon West]], would take place on 25 November 2018. On 20 September, Lau became the first person to announce her candidacy in a bid to regain the seat.<ref name=HKFP-Lau-announce>[https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/09/20/ousted-lawmaker-lau-siu-lai-run-novembers-legislative-council-election/ Ousted lawmaker Lau Siu-lai to run in November’s Legislative Council by-election], ''[[Hong Kong Free Press]]'', 20 September 2018</ref> She was the candidate of the [[Pro-democracy camp (Hong Kong)|pro-democracy camp]]. On 12 October 2018, Lau was disqualified by the Electoral Affairs Commission. She was replaced by [[Lee Cheuk-yan]], who was defeated by health ambassador and [[Pro-Beijing camp (Hong Kong)|pro-Beijing]] [[Chan Hoi-yan]] on 25 November, causing the pro-democracy camp to lose its majority status in the geographical constituency part in the Legislative Council.
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==Further reading== * {{cite web|last=Lum|first=Alvin|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2148349/ousted-hong-kong-lawmaker-lau-siu-lai-will-no-longer-contest|title=Ousted Hong Kong lawmaker Lau Siu-lai will no longer contest disqualification, but may run in location election |newspaper=[[South China Morning Post]]|date=2018-05-30}}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline|Lau Siu-lai}} * {{official website|https://siulai.hk/}}
{{S-start}} {{s-par|hk}} {{s-bef|before=[[Wong Yuk-man]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Legislative Council |district=[[Kowloon West (1998 constituency)|Kowloon West]] |years=2016–2017}} {{s-aft|after=[[Chan Hoi-yan]]}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lau, Siu-lai}} [[Category:Alumni of the Chinese University of Hong Kong]] [[Category:Hong Kong activists]] [[Category:Hong Kong women activists]] [[Category:Liberalism in Hong Kong]] [[Category:Academic staff of Hong Kong Polytechnic University]] [[Category:1976 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:HK LegCo Members 2016–2021]] [[Category:Hong Kong pan-democrats]] [[Category:Hong Kong localists]] [[Category:Expelled members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong]] [[Category:Political prisoners held by Hong Kong]]