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| March 2000 ‘Cha Siu Bing’ as district councillor Ready for another climax By Chan Siu Sin Article from the same
section: Whenever the name Lau Dan is mentioned, many might think of the character “Cha Siu Bing” in the popular television series A Kindred Spirit. Lau Dan, however, is far beyond that. Unlike other people in show business, Lau is involved in politics. He recently became a Sai Kung District Council appointed councillor and Liberal Party member. Enthusiastic about politics, Lau said he simply wanted to serve the community. Since the 1980s, he had taken part in community services. Bounded by his irregular working hours and limited channels, his participation was limited. More famous now after playing “Cha Siu Bing” in A Kindred Spirit, Lau has more chances to do social services because of the invitations from different organizations. In June 1999, Lau and his good friend, Cheng Chee Kwok, an ex-district councillor in Tai Po, founded the Whole Heartedness Volunteer Social Services Team. “Even without a cent, we can achieve many things and serve those in need. If we have funds, we can do more for those in need,” said Lau. The Team aimed at allying volunteers from all walks of life to establish branches in different districts, providing means for people to do community services. “We are not saviours, of course, but we can still devote ourselves to helping others. Only a smile on the face of those in need would be enough for me,” said he. Filled with ambition, he wants to extend their services to teenagers in the future. Lau is now an ambassador to the Social Welfare Department and the Housing Department. His devotion to community services allows him to meet many politicians from different parties, which in turn paves his way in politics. “When I was small, people said politics was dirty,” said Lau. When he grew up, however, he had a totally different view. “George Washington, Gandhi, Dr. Sun Yat Sin were all political leaders. Are they ‘dirty’? No, they are great,” he said. He started to participate in political campaigns after that. When Cheng Chee Kwok became one of the candidates in the 1999 Tai Po District Council election, Lau helped him by canvassing and producing cassettes to promote Cheng’s platform. Asked why he did not join the election, Lau said he had little time to chase votes like other candidates did and was restricted by the election regulations. This did not mean his road in politics was blocked, however. Mrs. Selina Chow, a Liberal Party member in the Legislative Council, recommended that Lau join the party in 1999. Before Lau was accepted as a party member, the Liberal Party had already nominated him to the government for an appointed seat on the District Council. On 30 December 1999, he was appointed as the councillor of the Sai Kung District Council, tenable for 4 years effective from 1 January 2000. This new appointment did not mean Lau would say farewell to show business. Rather, he had just signed a new 2-year contract with Television Broadcasts Limited. He said he would not give up acting unless two things happened. First, nobody wanted to see his performance anymore and TVB fired him. Second, he lost his memory and could not remember the scripts anymore. He was glad to be an actor as well as a councillor at the same time, even though it is difficult to manage these two careers. “You may think I am busy, but Li Ka-shing must be busier than me. “It all depends on your time management and whether you are tough enough. I am confident that I can handle both of them,” Lau said. Asked what supported him in managing the two careers, he said there were many propelling forces. “Whenever I engage in community services, I feel very happy, just like when I do well in acting,” he said. Besides, support by his family, friends, colleagues, TVB and local citizens helps to sustain him. Lau said the period between 1963 and 1965 was a watershed for him because he joined a ship’s crew. He developed his philosophy of life there. With no money but a wish to explore the world, Lau became a seaman. It was the immensity of the ocean that totally changed him. “I was hot-tempered. Whenever I couldn’t convince others to accept my opinions which I believed were right, I would fight with them,” Lau said. Lau learned boxing when he was young and he was seldom defeated in a fight. Several times, he and his friends went to Wanchai and fought gangs of American sailors. Every time they won and fled. Said he: “I was looking at the sea one night on the deck and I was surprised by its immensity. I could not see a piece of a continent for three whole days.” He said the land occupies only a tiny part of the Earth, and the Earth, a big ball, was far smaller than the stars. Human beings were nothing in the universe. He became more magnanimous afterwards. He no longer wanted to scrabble with others and make troubles. This change in personality, according to Lau, was particularly important to taking a job in politics. What assists him in his political career is his 32 years of experience in show business. As a result, he developed a better social network and it was easier to approach people in the community because of his familiarity. Lau could easily invite people in show business to help participate social services. “I hope more people in show business can take part in community services and politics,” he said. Asked whether he would worry about the lack of support from residents in Sai Kung because he was appointed but not elected, Lau showed his confidence. “Time will prove everything.” His keeping a low profile might make people unaware of the work he has done for the community, but he said that he did not mind. He said he would devote more time and effort to gaining people’s support and trust. In fact, during the interview in Sai Kung, many local citizens came to Lau asking for an autograph and calling him “Cha Siu Bing”. Lau greeted them one by one, smiling. To requite people’s support, Lau said he would be serious and modest about this challenging appointment. “Four years is not a short period. “If I do not do my best for them but cheat them with buzzwords, how can I face them and my own conscience?” said he. He said there were two kinds of district councillors. The first kind are those who flatter their local citizens, chasing votes by going to karaoke parties and playing mahjong with their voters, but with little concrete achievements. The other ones are those who gain recognition by their efforts paid to local affairs. Lau refuses to be the former. “Cheng Chee Kwok is my exemplary councillor. “I want to be a successful district councillor, gaining respect and familiarity together with concrete achievements, just like Cheng,” Lau said. Asked what he wanted to get from being a district councillor, Lau claimed three times that he had never thought of getting anything from it. “All I hope from this new job is simple. I want to help others. “Success or failure is not important, not to say it is difficult to define them,” he said. Lau is confident that he can adapt to this new job quickly. “Lots of experienced people from the Liberal Party are willing to support me and giving me opinions. “Besides, I am quite smart. “No matter whether acting, tennis, golf, boxing or diving, I can pick them up within a short period,” he said. The biggest difference among his two jobs was “artificiality” and “reality”. The things in the drama are all made up. Actors’ performances are not genuine, but a district councillor should be sincere to the local residents. If he were 20 years younger, Lau said he would choose to be a district councillor. He admitted that the satisfaction he obtains from engaging in community services and being a district councillor is greater than that of being an actor. “Having been an actor for over 30 years, I have received lots of letters praising me. “But being a district councillor is a challenge for me. “I think gaining people’s support and respect would be more satisfying,” he said. After three and a half years, he will review his job of district councillor. “If it is fruitful, I may consider joining the next District Council election,” Lau said. “Cha Siu Bing, I support you,” said a passerby. For his political achievements, people have to wait and see. |
(Janice Wong)
Local residents still treat Lau as “Cha Siu Bing” instead of the appointed District Board councillor. (Janice Wong)
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