CY Leung not the problem, Hong Kong’s political system is, says Polytechnic University lecturer-turned-activist ‘Teacher Siu-lai’
Lau Siu-lai made a name for herself with her ‘Democracy Classroom’ for participants in the Occupy protests; she now wants to put her ideals into practice by running for a Legco seat in Kowloon West
She may be anti-government but Polytechnic University sociology lecturer-turned-activist Lau Siu-lai has no time for the ABC (Anyone But CY) campaign, dismissing it as “pointless”.
She also rejects the idea of pushing for Hong Kong independence.
More popularly known as “Teacher Siu-lai” – a nickname she was given during the Occupy protests in 2014 when she held talks on social justice and democracy at the occupied sites, Lau is also an advocate of hawkers’ rights. During this year’s Lunar New Year holiday, she donned an apron to sell fishballs illegally in Sham Shui Po out of solidarity with the hawkers.
She plans to put her ideals into practice by running in Kowloon West in September’s polls.
“ABC is too simplistic and won’t solve any problems,” Lau said, referring to the campaign pushed by some pan-democrats with the aim of blocking Leung Chun-ying from securing another term as Hong Kong’s chief executive.
“You kick away Leung and Beijing will give you another one as bad as him, if not worse. We need to reform the system,” she said.
On Hong Kong independence, she had this to say: “I believe self-determination is a way out, but not independence. Independence is just unrealistic.