Hong Kong veteran actor and dancer Lau Siu-ming dies aged 94, remembered for arts legacy

Hong Kong veteran actor and dancer Lau Siu-ming died at about 6pm on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, according to media reports citing voice actor Ding Yue.

Lau was 94 and was affectionately known as Ming Sir. The cause of death was not specified, although he had reportedly been critically ill in recent years.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law paid tribute to Lau in a statement issued early on Thursday, 3 September 2026, praising his achievements in dance and the performing arts.

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

European training and dance career

Born in 1931, Lau was among the first Hong Kong dancers to pursue formal training in Europe. His work incorporated his experiences overseas while drawing on his Chinese heritage.

Lau was later invited to perform with the Brussels Ballet du XXe Siecle, extending his career into the European dance scene.

One of his best-known works was Rebirth of the Phoenix, which was performed in France during the 1960s, according to the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

The academy said Lau had studied and worked with some of the leading artists of the period while on scholarship at l’Ecole Superieure de Danse Cannes Rosella Hightower.

From dance to film and television

Lau returned to Hong Kong in 1967 and subsequently moved into television and film. He appeared in numerous popular productions that became widely loved by audiences.

His transition into screen acting established another major part of his artistic career, while his background in dance continued to shape his contribution to Hong Kong’s performing arts.

Law described Lau’s acting and screen presence as part of his lasting contribution to the city’s cultural heritage.

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

She also praised his professionalism and passion, saying they had made significant contributions to the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s cultural sector.

Contribution to arts development

Beyond performing, Lau founded dance and arts groups and took part in efforts to support the development of the wider arts community.

He also served on the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s Art Form Panel (Dance and Multi-arts).

In that role, Lau advised on the nurturing of new artistic talent and efforts to expand audiences for the arts.

His contribution was recognised by the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, which awarded him an honorary fellowship in 2007.

Lau subsequently received the Hong Kong Arts Development Council’s Life Achievement Award in 2019, further recognising his contribution to the performing arts sector.

Tributes from Hong Kong figures

Lawmaker Kenneth Fok Kai-kong described Lau’s death as a great loss to Hong Kong’s arts sector.

Fok recalled visiting Lau in hospital in January, when the veteran artist was already in a weakened condition.

“I remember visiting him in hospital this past January. He was already very weak, yet he still held my hand tightly,” Fok wrote in a social media post.

Fok said Lau had been eager to pass on his hopes and expectations for the industry despite his condition.

“That sincerity and passion remain vividly etched in my mind to this day,” Fok wrote.