Edwina Lau Chi-wai
SBS PDSM PMSM
Deputy Commissioner of Police
(National Security)
Hong Kong Police Force
Assumed office
3 July 2020
Personal details
Born (1965-07-29) 29 July 1965 (age 58)
OccupationLaw enforcement administrator

Edwina Lau Chi-wai, PMSM (Chinese: 劉賜蕙; Jyutping: lau4 ci3 wai6, born 29 July 1965) is a Hong Kong law enforcement administrator currently serving as the head of the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force while also sitting on the Committee for Safeguarding National Security.[1]

Career

According to an official biography, Lau joined the Royal Hong Kong Police in 1984 and served in various roles relating to narcotics, fraud, commercial crime, human resources management, police training, and police command. She has served as an assistant commissioner of police, regional commander of New Territories South, and as assistant commissioner of personnel.[2]

Lau also formerly served as director of the Hong Kong Police College.[3] In 2015, she was awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.[2]

In March 2019, Lau became a senior assistant commissioner of police, overseeing the work of the Service Quality Wing and the Information Systems Wing.[2]

In 2020, she was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police (National Security). She took her oath of office, which was witnessed by Carrie Lam, on 3 July 2020.[4]

On 10 February 2021, Carrie Lam awarded Lau the Chief Executive’s Commendation for Government/Public Service for her "significant contribution to safeguarding national security and the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law".[5]

In February 2023, Lau said there were "local extremists... hidden in the community" and that they "continue to disseminate seditious and false information on different platforms to instigate others to break the law."[6]

Sanctions

On 9 November 2020, Lau was sanctioned by the United States under Executive Order 13936 for her role in implementing the National Security Law.[7] Lau responded that she was unfazed by the sanctions and will continue to safeguard Hong Kong and national security.[8] She also called the sanctions "futile".[9]

References

  1. ^ "Edwina Lau to head police national security unit - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  2. ^ a b c "Ms Lau Chi-wai, Edwina, PMSM". The IPCC Symposium 2019. Independent Police Complaints Council. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  3. ^ Leung, Christy (13 December 2018). "Opportunity for public to see Hong Kong elite police units up close at open day to celebrate force's 175th anniversary". South China Morning Post.
  4. ^ "National security body established". Hong Kong Government. 3 July 2020.
  5. ^ "CE commends seven serving and retired senior police officers (with photos)". Hong Kong Government. 10 February 2021.
  6. ^ Leung, Hillary (15 February 2023). "Hong Kong police deny putting 'too much effort' into national security as leap in fraud drives 10% crime rate increase - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP". hongkongfp.com. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  7. ^ "Designations of Four PRC and HK Officials Threatening the Peace, Security, and Autonomy of HK". U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau. 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  8. ^ "Security police boss unfazed by sanctions". The Standard. Archived from the original on 2021-02-05.
  9. ^ "Sanctioning us is futile, say Hong Kong police". RTHK. 10 November 2020.
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