Lau Chin Shek
Encyclopedia
Lau Chin-shek is the President of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions
and a vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee
. He was born in Guangzhou and had a secondary school education. He was a member of the Legislative Council
from 1991 to 2008.
Lau smuggled from Guangzhou to Hong Kong in 1960. Since 1980s, he has been a labour activist
, working to help factory workers in Sham Shui Po
and Cheung Sha Wan
, where orking conditions were poor in those days.
During the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
, Lau and other pro-democracy activists expressed sympathy and support to the student demonstrators who had gathered at Tiananmen Square. He and others also founded The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, which organises the anniversary commemoration of the 1989 protests.
In 1990, Lau and other labour activists, including Lee Cheuk Yan
, established the 160,000-strong Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions
. Lau ran in the Hong Kong legislative elections in 1991
, and was elected. Lau was re-elected three times. Lau was a lawmaker continuously from 1991 to 2008, except a brief period during 1997 and 1998 when the sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred to the People's Republic of China
, and the Legislative Council temporarily became a Provisional Legislative Council
which was filled with people indirectly hand picked by Beijing.
In recent years, however, Lau has moderated his stance against Beijing. He was expelled from the Democratic Party (Hong Kong)
in 2000 because of having an identity of two parties. Once branded subversive by the central authorities, Mr Lau had been barred from entering mainland China
for more than a decade. In May 2000, after quiet lobbying by Hong Kong top leaders, he was allowed to make a low-key visit to Guangzhou
to see his ailing mother. Since then, he has been urging his pro-democracy colleagues to have "better communication with the Central Government" and visit mainland China and see for themselves the changes that are taking place in the country.
Lau lost his seat in the Legislative Council in the Legislative Election of 2008
with only 5.1% or 10,553 votes.
On a radio program in September 2008, he announces that he has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer
. He says the cancer is under control.
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions
The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions is a pro-democracy labour and political group in the Hong Kong. It was established in 1990...
and a vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee
Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee
The Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee is a non-governmental pressure group that focuses on labor welfare policy and industrial safety. The group was founded in 1966 as an auxiliary organization of the Hong Kong Christian Council...
. He was born in Guangzhou and had a secondary school education. He was a 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...
from 1991 to 2008.
Lau smuggled from Guangzhou to Hong Kong in 1960. Since 1980s, he has been a labour activist
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
, working to help factory workers in Sham Shui Po
Sham Shui Po
Sham Shui Po, or Shamshuipo, is an area of Sham Shui Po District, Hong Kong, situated in the northwestern part of the Kowloon Peninsula, north of Tai Kok Tsui, east of Cheung Sha Wan and south of Shek Kip Mei. Sham Shui Po is known for its street market for electronic devices.-History:Sham Shui Po...
and Cheung Sha Wan
Cheung Sha Wan
Cheung Sha Wan is an area between Lai Chi Kok and Sham Shui Po in New Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is mainly residential to the north and south, with an industrial area in between. Administratively it is part of Sham Shui Po District. The Sham Shui Po District includes Mei Foo as well as Lai Chi...
, where orking conditions were poor in those days.
During the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
, Lau and other pro-democracy activists expressed sympathy and support to the student demonstrators who had gathered at Tiananmen Square. He and others also founded The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, which organises the anniversary commemoration of the 1989 protests.
In 1990, Lau and other labour activists, including Lee Cheuk Yan
Lee Cheuk Yan
Lee Cheuk-yan is the member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong representing the New Territories West constituency. He is also General Secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, and the chairman of Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in...
, established the 160,000-strong Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions
The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions is a pro-democracy labour and political group in the Hong Kong. It was established in 1990...
. Lau ran in the Hong Kong legislative elections in 1991
Hong Kong legislative election, 1991
The 1991 Hong Kong legislative election for members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong ; the election of the members of functional constituencies was held on 12 September 1995 and the election of geographical constituency seats was held on 15 September. It was the first ever direct election of...
, and was elected. Lau was re-elected three times. Lau was a lawmaker continuously from 1991 to 2008, except a brief period during 1997 and 1998 when the sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred to the People's Republic of China
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 the Legislative Council temporarily became a Provisional Legislative Council
Provisional Legislative Council
The Provisional Legislative Council or the PLC was the interim legislature of Hong Kong from 1997 to 1998. The legislature was founded in Guangzhou and sat in Shenzhen from 1996 until the handover in 1997 and moved to Hong Kong to serves as the temporary replacement of Legislative Council of Hong...
which was filled with people indirectly hand picked by Beijing.
In recent years, however, Lau has moderated his stance against Beijing. He was expelled from the Democratic Party (Hong Kong)
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...
in 2000 because of having an identity of two parties. Once branded subversive by the central authorities, Mr Lau had been barred from entering mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
for more than a decade. In May 2000, after quiet lobbying by Hong Kong top leaders, he was allowed to make a low-key visit to Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
to see his ailing mother. Since then, he has been urging his pro-democracy colleagues to have "better communication with the Central Government" and visit mainland China and see for themselves the changes that are taking place in the country.
Lau lost his seat in the Legislative Council in the Legislative Election of 2008
Hong Kong legislative election, 2008
The 2008 Hong Kong legislative election was held on 7 September 2008 for the 4th Legislative Council since the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. There are 60 seats in the 4th Council, with 30 Members elected by geographical constituencies through direct elections, and...
with only 5.1% or 10,553 votes.
On a radio program in September 2008, he announces that he has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
. He says the cancer is under control.