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🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

Veteran Hong Kong actor and dance pioneer Lau Siu-ming dies at 94

From CNA · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Veteran Hong Kong actor and dancer Lau Siu-ming died at age 94 on Sept. 2, according to media reports citing voice actor Ding Yue.
  • Lau helped shape Hong Kong’s dance scene, later appearing in numerous television and film productions, including A Chinese Ghost Story III.
  • Culture Secretary Rosanna Law and other arts figures praised his contributions, while noting his work as a teacher, adviser and founder of arts organizations.

Lau Siu-ming, affectionately known in Hong Kong as Ming Sir, has died at 94 after a career that carried him from European ballet training to the city’s television and film screens.

Lau died at about 6 p.m. on Sept. 2, according to media reports citing voice actor Ding Yue. His cause of death was not specified, although he had reportedly been critically ill in recent years. Hong Kong Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law paid tribute to him in a statement issued early Thursday.

Ming Sir devoted his life to dance and the performing arts. His talent and dedication will always be remembered. We deeply mourn his passing and pay the highest tribute to his outstanding artistic achievements.

· Rosanna LawHong Kong’s culture secretary paid tribute to Lau after his death.

“Ming Sir devoted his life to dance and the performing arts. His talent and dedication will always be remembered. We deeply mourn his passing and pay the highest tribute to his outstanding artistic achievements,” Law said.

Born in 1931, Lau was among the first Hong Kong dancers to pursue formal training in Europe. He studied and worked with leading artists while holding a scholarship at the École Supérieure de Danse Cannes Rosella Hightower, and later performed with the Brussels Ballet du XXe Siècle. His work Rebirth of the Phoenix was performed in France during the 1960s.

Lau returned to Hong Kong in 1967 and moved into television and film, becoming a familiar presence in productions popular with local audiences. He was known for bringing his experiences and Chinese heritage into his work, and played the eerie tree demon Lao Lao in A Chinese Ghost Story III.

His nuanced acting and versatile image left a precious artistic legacy in Hong Kong’s film and television culture.

· Rosanna LawLaw described Lau’s contribution to Hong Kong’s screen culture.

Beyond performing, Lau founded dance and arts groups and served on the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s Art Form Panel for Dance and Multi-arts. He advised on developing new artistic talent and expanding audiences. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts awarded him an honorary fellowship in 2007, and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council gave him its Life Achievement Award in 2019.

“His nuanced acting and versatile image left a precious artistic legacy in Hong Kong’s film and television culture,” Law said. “His professionalism and passion made significant contributions to the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s cultural sector.” Lawmaker Kenneth Fok Kai-kong also called his death a great loss to Hong Kong’s arts sector.

His professionalism and passion made significant contributions to the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s cultural sector.

· Rosanna LawLaw praised Lau’s wider contribution to the cultural sector.
About this summary

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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