Andrew Lau 劉晉安
Call : 2018 (HK)
Set : Annex
Practice Areas
Administrative and Public LawChanceryCommercial LawCompany and InsolvencyCriminal LawEmploymentLand and Property LawProbate and AdministrationRegulatory and DisciplinaryTort and Personal Injuries
Contact
Email : [email protected] Secretary : Suki Tsui [email protected]

“Andrew has very strong written and advocacy skills in criminal and regulatory matters. As a young practitioner, he always shows confidence when he conducts trials as a defence lawyer, and his confidence is based on his excellent cross-examination skills and familiarity with legal principles.”
Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2024: Regulatory, Investigations and Crime – Rising Star

“Andrew is a very hardworking barrister with outstanding advocacy and drafting skills. As a former journalist, he is particularly good at presenting his arguments in a logical way, making his written and oral submissions convincing and easy to understand, and he is also well-known for being good at explaining the most difficult and complex legal principles and cases in the most straightforward and practical way so that the clients would be able to comprehend them easily.”
Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2024: Administrative and Public Law – Rising Star

Prior to practising law, Andrew was already a household name in Hong Kong: he was a bilingual reporter for TVB News, where he also anchored the flagship newscasts News at Six-Thirty (六點半新聞) and Late News (晚間新聞).

Upon joining the Bar, Andrew was awarded the Charles Ching Memorial Scholarship. Since then, Andrew has been singled out for his involvement in various high-profile public law cases including the failure of police officers to display unique identification numbers and/or ranks on their uniforms, the election petition of ousted lawmaker Ms. Lau Siu-lai, and public access to the Civic Square.

In addition to public law, Andrew maintains a solid civil practice with an emphasis on commercial disputes, company/insolvency, equity/trusts, land and probate. Recent cases include Tse Dao Chuen v Cheung Wai Yan, where he successfully dismissed a claim for the entire beneficial interest in a property, Che Yim Mei v Lei Sio Peng & Anor, where he successfully convinced the Court, in a first-of-its-kind ruling, to uphold the validity of a notice of severance under section 17B of the Housing Ordinance (Cap. 283), and Re GTI Holdings Ltd, where he successfully sought an immediate winding up order against a Cayman incorporated company notwithstanding restructuring attempts.

Andrew also maintains a growing criminal law practice. In 2022, he was awarded the inaugural Patrick Yu Memorial Scholarship, which is given to high-calibre candidates to support their careers in criminal law.

Court work aside, Andrew teaches administrative law at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and media law at the Baptist University of Hong Kong. He also co-authored the inaugural title Judicial Review in the Halsbury’s Laws of Hong Kong series.

Andrew speaks English, Cantonese, Putonghua, and (conversational) Japanese.


• PCLL (Distinction), Chinese University of Hong Kong (2017)
• Juris Doctor (Top 5%), Chinese University of Hong Kong (2016)
• Master of Journalism (Distinction), University of Hong Kong (2010)
• BSc (Radio/TV/Film and Economics), Northwestern University (2009)
• Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong (2006)
• Diocesan Boys’ School (2004)


• Patrick Yu Memorial Scholarship (2022)
• 2018-20 Recognition Scheme for Provision of Pro Bono Legal Services, Special Award (2021)
• Charles Ching Memorial Scholarship (2018)
• Dean’s Letter of Distinction (2017)
• Prize for Criminal Litigation Practice (2017)
• Association of China-Appointed Attesting Officers Scholarship (2017)
• HKSAR Government Scholarship (2016)
• Finalist, Hong Kong Law Reform Commission Essay Competition (2015)
• Northwestern University Immersion Language Grant Award (2008)
• Dean’s List (2006-2008)


Hong Kong Bar Association

• Committee Member, Standing Committee on Legal Aid Reform (2020 – present)
• Committee Member, Standing Committee on Civic Education (2019 – present)

Teaching

• Lecturer, Department of Journalism and Communication, Hong Kong Shue Yan University (2021 – present)
• Lecturer, Department of Journalism, Hong Kong Baptist University (2020 – present)
• Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Chinese University of Hong Kong (2019 – present)
• Lecturer, Certificate in Legal Studies, HKUSPACE (2019 – present)
• Lecturer/Tutor, Graduate Diploma in English and Hong Kong Law, HKUSPACE (2019 – present)
• Lecturer, Division of Social Science, Community College of City University (2018 – 2020)


• Contributing Author, Halsbury’s Laws of Hong Kong Vol 34(1), Judicial Review
• Annotator, The Annotated Ordinances of Hong Kong, Legal Aid Ordinance (Cap. 91)


General Civil

Tse Dao Chuen v Cheung Wai Yan [2021] HKDC 399 – successfully defended a claim for beneficial interest in a property arising from common intention constructive trust and/or resulting trust in a two-day trial. Read case summary here.

Chiu Ricky Tong v Eagle Bright Property Development Co. Ltd & Ors (HCA 520/2019) – defending a claim involving breach of contract and unjust enrichment; resisted an application for summary judgment; resisting a summary judgment/interim payment application.

Tian Tian v Cao Ji [2019] HKDC 197 – successfully applied for a Mareva injunction in the context of cyber-fraud.

Chan Yi Pang and Ors. v Sin Yuk Ling and Ors [2019] HKCFI 65 – four-day trial arising from the sale of a retail jewelry business involving, inter alia, fraudulent misrepresentations (with Mr. Jeffrey Tam).

Winding-up/Insolvency

Re GTI Holdings Ltd [2021] HKCFI 3647 – successfully obtained an immediate winding-up order against Cayman-incorporated company notwithstanding restructuring attempts. Read case summary here.

Construction

Sun Cheong Construction Company Ltd v The IOs of King Fu, Ho Fu, Ki Fu and Ka Fu Buildings [2019] HKCFI 2076; [2019] HKCFI 236; [2019] HKCA 167; [2019] HKCA 488 – seven-day trial arising from a contractual dispute to carry out building repair and maintenance works; application to rule D’s expert reports inadmissible for failure to comply with O.38 RHC (Cap. 4A) (with Mr. Tim Kwok and Mr. Albert Wan).

Land

寶雲匯業主立案法團 與 詹逸民及另外六人 (LDBM 174/2021) – resisting an application for injunction brought pursuant to Schedule 10 to the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344).

Che Yim Mei v Lei Sio Peng & Anor [2021] HKDC 839 – successfully resisted an application to set aside a notice of severance executed in relation to a flat under the Home Ownership Scheme. Read case summary here.

陳小華及另十五人與 鄭道珍 [2019] HKLdT 54 – resisted an application for costs after the Applicants discontinued their claim (with Mr. Matthew Tse).

Judicial Review

Radio Television Hong Kong Programme Staff Union & Anor v Communications Authority [2021] 5 HKLRD 509, [2021] HKCFI 3497 (now CACV 579 and 584/2021) – successfully sought a quashing order of the Communication Authority’s findings against Headliner (頭條新聞), the longest running satirical current affairs programme in Hong Kong (led by Mr. Johannes Chan SC and with Mr. Jeffrey Tam).

Chung Suet Ying v Commissioner of Correctional Services (HCAL 1094/2021) – successfully obtained leave to apply for judicial review on papers in a challenge arising out of the Correctional Services Department’s decision(s) to ban female prisoners and remands from wearing shorts in summer (with Mr. Jeffrey Tam and Ms. Yvonne Leung). Read case summary here.

Sham Tsz Kit & Anor v Commissioner of Police & Anor [2021] HKCFI 746; [2021] HKCFI 2016 – successfully obtained leave in judicial review challenging the police’s decision to use tear gas outside Citic Tower on 12 June 2019; also, successfully convinced the Court to make no order as to costs after the Applicants decided not to apply for the proceedings to continue as if begun by writ (led by Ms. Gladys Li SC and with Mr. Jeffrey Tam). Read summaries of rolled-up hearing and decision on costs.

Yeung Tsz Chun v Hong Kong Police Force [2020] 5 HKLRD 653 (now CACV 646/2020) – successfully obtained leave and the relief claimed in one of five judicial review cases concerning the failure of police officers to display unique identification markings during protest operations; resisting application to adduce new evidence on appeal (led by Mr. Martin Lee SC and with Mr. Jeffrey Tam). Read case summary here.

Cheung Tak Wing v Director of Administration [2020] 1 HKLRD 906 – represented the Applicant in the appeal against the CFI’s ruling that the permission scheme limiting public assemblies/demonstrations at the East Wing Forecourt of the CGO was unconstitutional (led by Ms. Gladys Li SC and with Mr. Jeffrey Tam)

Election Petition

Lau Siu-Lai v Kwok Wai Fun, Franco and Chan Hoi Yan [2020] 2 HKLRD 1395; (2020) 23 HKCFAR 338 – successfully lodged an election petition arising from the returning officer’s disqualification of the Petitioner from the LegCo By-election for the Kowloon West Geographical Constituency held on 25 November 2018; also, successfully resisted applications for leave to appeal to the CFA (led by Mr. Paul Shieh SC and with Mr. Jeffrey Tam). Read  summaries of CFI’s Judgment and CFA’s Reasons for Determination.

Criminal

DCCC 499/2021 – mitigated on behalf of defendant charged with dangerous driving causing death.

香港特別行政區 訴 蕭浩賢及另八人 [2021] HKCFI 2469; KCCC 2065/2019 – appeal against conviction of unlawful assembly charges for D2 and D6; represented D2 in the 21-day magistracy trial.

TMCC 1953/2020 – secured acquittal for unlawful assembly and other charges. Read case summary here.

KCCC 1360/2020 – secured acquittal for a charge of criminal damage.

TMCC 1954/2019 – secured acquittal for a charge of possession of offensive weapon in public place.

STCC 4139/2019 – represented D in a common assault trial.

HKSAR v Cheung Kwai Choi and Chow Nok Hang [2018] HKCFI 2243; [2019] HKCFA 13 – appeal against conviction of an offence under s.20(b) Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance (Cap. 382) (with Mr. Jeffrey Tam).


Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2024: Andrew Lau recognised as a “Rising Star” in Administrative and Public Law, and Regulatory, Investigations and Crime

 

AWARDS & RECOGNITION – 2020/22 Recognition Scheme for Provision of Pro Bono Legal Services

 

Criminal Law — Defendant acquitted of common assault on the basis of questionable identification

 

Motorcyclist acquitted of dangerous driving with costs

 

Hong Kong Probate Law: Court of Appeal dismisses executrix’s appeal to withhold distributing late father’s estate until resolution of pending litigation

 

Hong Kong Criminal Law: Undue Leniency in Sentencing Dangerous Drivers Who Caused Death?

 

Hong Kong Criminal Law: No case to answer for bus driver charged with causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving

 

Andrew Lau awarded the inaugural Patrick Yu Memorial Scholarship

 

Winding Up: High Court grants immediate winding up order against Cayman-incorporated company notwithstanding restructuring attempts

 


Defendants acquitted of unlawful assembly and other charges arising from 2019 protest outside police operations base

 

Court of First Instance grants leave for judicial review over ban on female prisoners and remands from wearing shorts in summer

 

District Court gives first-of-its-kind ruling that a notice of severance executed shortly before death does not constitute “alienation” forbidden under the Housing Ordinance

 

Cheng Yeung & Co. invites Members of Denis Chang’s Chambers to present two criminal law seminars

 

Court of First Instance clarifies principles on costs in a rolled-up hearing for judicial review

 

District Court dismisses claim for entire beneficial interest in property and allows counterclaim for order for sale
Members of Denis Chang’s Chambers recognised for pro bono legal services to the community

 

High Court finds legal challenge over police use of tear gas on 12 June 2019 reasonably arguable with realistic prospect of success

 

High Court rules police failure to display unique identification, and lack of independent police complaints mechanism, violate Hong Kong Bill of Rights
 
COVID-19 scams: Latest trends and practical tips for recovery

 

Court of Final Appeal upholds election petition of disqualified lawmaker Lau Siu-Lai

 

COVID-19 – The Law Un-Masked: Corporate General Meetings in the Time of COVID-19