From classroom to politics: ousted Hong Kong lawmaker Lau Siu-lai feels ‘weight of the world’

In a four-part series in which the Post speaks to disqualified lawmakers, the former lecturer turned activist says she is eyeing the by-elections in the long war for democracy

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Lau Siu-lai is one of four Hong Kong lawmakers recently disqualified over improper oaths. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 7:00pm, 10 Sep 2017Updated: 3:29pm, 11 Sep 2017

Hong Kong lecturer-turned-activist Lau Siu-lai says she feels the “weight of the world” after transitioning from academia to politics, only to be unseated from the Legislative Council over an oath-taking row.

But Lau, more popularly known as “teacher Siu-lai” – a nickname she was given during the 2014 Occupy movement when she held talks on social justice and democracy at protest sites – refused to be pessimistic about the rise and fall of her political career. For her, the fight is a long war instead of a short battle.

The saga began on October 12 last year when several lawmakers added their own elements to the official oath. Lau spent eight minutes delivering her oath, pausing five to seven seconds between every Chinese word.

Despite ouster, ‘Long Hair’ confident in city’s social activism

She later said on Facebook that she did that to “manifest the falsehood of the oath”.

The antics prompted the government to seek the disqualification of six lawmakers. First to go last November were localists Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching, who insulted China when they took their oaths. Four more lawmakers, including Lau, were disqualified in July.

I think I should not just stay in the classroom, but go out and fight for justice

Lau Siu-lai

Out of the four recently unseated lawmakers, Lau and “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung have indicated that they would appeal against their disqualifications.

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