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Jeffie Lam

A typical day for Emily Lau Wai-hing begins at 6am, when she gets up to monitor newscasts and sometimes take part in phone-in shows – frequently on RTHK Radio 3, as she is among the handful of lawmakers who are happy to take English questions from the press.
Arriving at the legislature at about 8am, the Democratic Party’s first chairwoman commences a hectic day of marathon meetings and appointments. Lunches and dinners with friends are rare because she usually spends mealtimes at working parties.
The few hours before bed around midnight are when Lau can enjoy a bit of the luxury of catching up with international news and doing some reading.
Hong Kong Democratic Party leader Emily Lau decides not to seek re-election in 2016
“During all those years, I did not have any other jobs,” she said at her farewell press conference on Friday.
“My bosses are the Hong Kong people. I have no conflict of interests or conflict of roles. I devoted all my time to serving the Hong Kong people.”
To many, the departure of the “Iron Lady” is a significant moment – Lau was the city’s first directly elected woman legislator, someone fearless in unleashing tough questions and a favourite of the international media. In 1984, the young journalist from the now-defunct Far Eastern Economic Review gained fame after questioning then British prime minister Margaret Thatcher for “delivering over five million people into the hands of a communist dictatorship”.

The journalist-turned-lawmaker has since continued to direct tough questions and criticism against the central and local authorities, on issues such as the snail’s pace of democratic progress in the city and the alleged interference in the coalition among parties across the spectrum – something she had pushed for in the legislature in order to “get things done”.
“I am very willing to work with different parties as consensus could be forged only with communication and compromises,” she said. “But in 2004, the central government’s liaison office said such a coalition would undermine the executive-led government system.”
Tough reporter who became city’s own Iron Lady
Over the years, Lau has also been one of the very few lawmakers who would fly all the way to Geneva to attend the regular United Nations hearings on the city’s human rights situation. She did so for more than two decades – although those efforts seldom made it to the press.
“No media has sent any reporters to cover such meetings in the past decade. Some lawmakers are not interested in going as they feel like their effort will not be known ... which is understandable,” she told the Post.
“But I am very stubborn. I will go regardless of that.”

Lau called on the media to adopt a wider perspective and do more coverage on such important international meetings.
“If [Chief Executive] Leung Chun-ying’s earlier remark regarding the city’s possible withdrawal from the United Nations’ torture convention is regarded as news, how could such hearings not be?”
Lau, now 64, said she did not have much to miss as she walked out of the legislature she entered when she was 39.
“I am the kind of person who will not look back once I decide to do something,” said Lau, who vowed to remain active in civil society and intends to work on her memoir.
Proudest moment:
Spearheaded an eight-party coalition in 2001 which successfully forced the government to adopt its suggestions, such as a waiver of property rates
Biggest regret:
Universal suffrage is yet to be attained in Hong Kong


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Emily Lau Wai-hing, the city’s first directly elected woman lawmaker, at her Legco office last week. Photo: Nora Tam

Lau attending the UN. Photo: Nora Tam

(B/W PHOTO) Former journalist Emily Lau Wai-hing (centre) shows a victory sign after winning the Legislative Council elections. 16SEP91

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Tough reporter who became city’s own Iron Lady

Ms Emily Lau Wai-hing, a correspondent of the Far East Economic Review, makes a speech at a seminar titled "The Political System of Hong Kong: Its Development and 1997" in the University of Hong Kong. The seminar is organised by the Hong Kong Affairs Society.

Emily Lau makes a speech as a journalist with the Far Eastern Economic Review in 1984 – the same year she took Margaret Thatcher to task

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Albert Chan Wai-yip at Legco in Tamar last week. Photo: Nora Tam

Legco Member Albert Chan Wai-yip (second from right; white shirt) in action during the friendly football match, Legco football team and the Dawn Homeless Football Team hold a match at Sha Tin Sports Ground, Sha Tin. 18 February 2006.

Legislator Albert Chan Wai-yip express at the Legco's Finance Committee meeting at Legco Complex in Tamar. 18MAR16 SCMP/ Sam Tsang

Black and White Photo. Members of United Democrats of Hong Kong, flash victory signs outside the Legislative Council on 26 July 1991 as the party announces 14 nomineers , along with three of their allies from the Meeting Point pressure group to participant in the first direct elections to the Legislative Council.

Lawmaker Chan Wai-yip (Left) shows a placard that reads "say no to the Hong Kong Communist Regime" during Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's (Right) question and answer at Legislative Council, Tamar. 17OCT13

News

Hong Kong

Politics

Journalist-turned-lawmaker and city’s first directly elected female legislator has never stopped asking tough questions
