Ventus Lau is a politician who founded the Hong Kong Civil Assembly Team (民間集會團隊) and the Shatin Community Network (沙田社區網絡). He was one of the 47 activists who were arrested in February 2021 for participating in the 2020 pro-democracy primaries.

Lau started his political career in 2014 as a student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), advocating for the disaffiliation of the Students' Union from the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS; 香港大專學生聯會).[1]

Previously a member of Neo Democrats (新民主同盟), Lau left the party in 2015 over a dispute and formed the Shatin Community Network, which later won a seat in Chung Tin (a constituency in Sha Tin district), to continue his community services in the district.[2] In August 2017, the network co-founded the Community Network Union (社區網絡聯盟) with five localist groups in different districts in hopes of winning 15 seats in the 2019 District Council election.[3] In 2018, Lau declared his candidacy in the 2018 New Territories East by-election but was disqualified by the returning officer due to his previous support for Hong Kong independence.[4] In May, he filed an appeal over the ban in the High Court and won on Sept. 13, 2019.[5]

During the 2019 Anti-Extradition Bill movement, Lau organized multiple public assemblies in his role at the Hong Kong Civil Assembly Team (HKCAT) as the founder and spokesperson. On Jan. 19, 2023, HKCAT organized an assembly urging world governments to sanction Hong Kong officials. Attended by 150,000 people and echoed by rallies in 22 foreign cities, the assembly was cut short after clashes. Police arrested Lau, along with 30 other persons, after he accused the police of failing to maintain order.[6] He was granted bail at HK$10,000 cash plus HK$ 10,000 surety.

In the 2020 pro-democracy primaries, Lau secured nominations to the Legislative Election as the runner-up with the support of 16.24% of the constituency.[7] After being disqualified from running with 11 other activists by authorities, he was arrested on Jan. 6, 2021, alongside 52 individuals in relation to the primaries. On Feb. 28, 2021, he was arrested again along with 46 others charged with "subversion" under the National Security Law.[8] On Sept. 8, 2022, Lau pleaded guilty to the charge and remains in prison awaiting sentence.[9]

Photo: Ventus Lau's Facebook