Honcques Laus

Honcques Laus (Chinese: 劉康; born 10 October 2001) is a Hong Kong pro-independence activist, utilitarian, and author. He is the founder and chairperson of the Hongkonger Utilitarian Party[1] and a former student reporter for Ming Pao.[2] During a group photo shoot with Chief Executive Carrie Lam at a Ming Pao student event in 2017, Laus displayed the slogan "Hong Kong independence" on his phone.[2][3] He fled to the United Kingdom shortly before the imposition of the Hong Kong national security law on 30 June 2020, and was wanted by the Hong Kong Police Force thereafter.[1][3]

Honcques Laus
Laus in 2019
Born (2001-10-10) 10 October 2001
Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
EducationKwai Chung Methodist College
Open University of Hong Kong
SchoolUtilitarianism
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese劉康
Simplified Chinese刘康

Biography

Honcques Laus was born in Tsan Yuk Hospital in Sai Ying Pun on 10 October 2001. He studied at Kwai Chung Methodist College and then Open University of Hong Kong.[2][4]

In the aftermath of the 2014 Umbrella Revolution, Laus began to believe that Hong Kong did not truly have democracy and freedom, and began to involve himself in politics and social justice movements. In 2016, the localist camp gained traction during the New Territories East by-election, inspiring Laus to start advocating Hong Kong independence.[5]

On 16 November 2017, during an awards ceremony held by Ming Pao, Laus had a chance to take a group photo with then chief executive Carrie Lam. Placed in the back row, he held up his phone which displayed the slogan "Hong Kong independence"; this was not immediately noticed by the photographers.[6] After the incident, staff at Kwai Chung Methodist College warned him against his repeating his actions,[7] but Laus contended that he was exercising his political rights and decided to protest outside school grounds on 24 November.[8] The pro-independence groups Hong Kong National Front and Studentlocalism also demonstrated that day in support of Laus, although Laus himself was not allowed to leave the school for two hours due to "safety reasons".[9]

In December 2017, he was arrested for bringing a toy gun to the Lennon Wall near the Legislative Council Complex.[10] He was later charged with possessing an imitation firearm.[11] On 12 September 2018, he was sentenced to 18 months of probation.[12] In June 2019, he appealed his charges and sentence, with Martin Lee representing him.[13] On 4 July 2019, he won the appeal against his conviction.[14]

On 29 June 2019, he founded the Hongkonger Utilitarian Party (香港效益主義黨), a pro-independence group which advocates utilitarianism, emphasizing liberty, democracy, and independence.[15]

In August 2019, he published his first book, Making Light of Current Affairs (輕論時政) at the age of 17.[16] Activists including Lam Wing-kee and Joshua Wong were invited to write the foreword.[17]

In late June 2020, shortly before the Hong Kong national security law came into force, he fled to the United Kingdom and sought asylum.[1] He stated that he would not give up his political views.[18] On 31 July, he was wanted, together with five other activists, by the Hong Kong Police Force. Laus was accused of "incitement to secession and collusion with foreign forces".[1][3] In December 2020, Laus posted on Facebook that his Bank of China account had been suspended, although the account only had HK$47.23.[19][20]

References
  1. "Who are the 6 Hong Kong activists wanted by the police under Beijing's national security law?". Global Voices Kenya. 5 August 2020. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  2. "與林鄭大合照舉手機屏突擊示威 撐港獨中五生遭校方警告" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Apple Daily. 24 November 2017. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. "'Wanted' Hong Kong activist Honcques Laus says he'll keep lobbying foreign politicians after fleeing security law". Hong Kong Free Press. 16 September 2020. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  4. "「效益黨」劉康︰已抵英申政治庇護 籲各國制裁香港及中國政府 (10:30)" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Ming Pao. 30 July 2020. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  5. "【流亡者們】人生第一次搭飛機，就是流亡——劉康" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Apple Daily. 5 September 2020. Archived from the original on 9 September 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  6. 潘希橋 (16 November 2017). "【政壇諸事町】「突襲」林鄭成功 中五生合照時展示「港獨」標語" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). HK01. Archived from the original on 15 March 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  7. "學生校外派港獨傳單 遭教局嚴厲譴責 親中團體踩場對罵". Apple Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 24 November 2017. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  8. "撐港獨中五生遭校方警告". Apple Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 24 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  9. "撐港獨中五生一度被禁放學". Apple Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 25 November 2017. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  10. "港獨劉康涉藏仿製槍 稱返學出街都攜帶". on.cc東網 (in Traditional Chinese). 7 August 2018. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  11. CHAN, HOLMES (22 August 2018). "16-year-old pro-independence student convicted over possession of imitation firearm". Hong Kong Free Press. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  12. "青年立法會外藏氣槍罪成 判感化18個月 (12:16)". Ming Pao (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 12 September 2018. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  13. "「學生動源」劉康就定罪提上訴 質疑官加入盤問程度高". RTHK (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 4 June 2019. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  14. Lau, Chris (4 July 2019). "Hong Kong secondary school pupil wins appeal against conviction for possession of imitation firearm near legislature". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  15. "17歲中學生劉康成立效益主義黨 批政府令港人陷於痛苦". Hong Kong In-media (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 29 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  16. "【Emily】「效益黨」劉康出書 歡迎畀美金" (in Cantonese). Ming Pao. 31 August 2019. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  17. "不只是行動派｜十七歲劉康出版新書思考時政哲學，紀錄黑獄見聞". Local Press HK (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 30 August 2019. Archived from the original on 15 March 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  18. "【國安法】「效益黨」主席劉康抵英尋政治庇護 稱預計遭迫害". Headline Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 30 July 2020. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  19. "Activist doesn't shiver at freezing action". Hong Kong Standard. 31 December 2020. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  20. "Wanted Hong Kong activist Honcques Laus says bank account with HK$50 has been 'terminated'". Coconuts Hong Kong. 30 December 2020. Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
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