Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
@aimenlau.bsky.social
🇭🇰🇲🇾🇨🇦 | Information Operations and Transnational Repression Research | formerly at Alliance Canada Hong Kong and Doublethink Lab | she/elle | views are my fault
Pinned
Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
@aimenlau.bsky.social
· Jan 10
Books I read in 2025
1) Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo
A political satire inspired by the 2017 coup that ended Mugabe’s rule in Zimbabwe told through the perspective of animals. The use of animals as a metaphor wasn’t the most effective for me, the book was an overall fun read
1) Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo
A political satire inspired by the 2017 coup that ended Mugabe’s rule in Zimbabwe told through the perspective of animals. The use of animals as a metaphor wasn’t the most effective for me, the book was an overall fun read
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
This fire is going to be a headache for Beijing in Hong Kong because:
1. Some loyalists politicians in Hong Kong are involved in the building renovation scandal leading to this disaster.
2. Beijing still does not have the ability to fully control the narrative, at least not on the social media.
1. Some loyalists politicians in Hong Kong are involved in the building renovation scandal leading to this disaster.
2. Beijing still does not have the ability to fully control the narrative, at least not on the social media.
Over 750 firefighters have been deployed to tackle Wednesday's deadly fire at a Tai Po housing estate, which has left at least 13 dead and 30 injured. In full: buff.ly/AzB4aq0
Over 750 firefighters deployed to deadly Tai Po estate fire; at least 13 dead as China's Xi sends condolences | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Over 750 firefighters have been deployed to tackle Wednesday’s deadly fire at a Tai Po housing estate, which has left at least 13 dead and 30 injured. Bamboo scaffolding, erected as part of large-scale...
buff.ly
November 27, 2025 at 3:17 AM
This fire is going to be a headache for Beijing in Hong Kong because:
1. Some loyalists politicians in Hong Kong are involved in the building renovation scandal leading to this disaster.
2. Beijing still does not have the ability to fully control the narrative, at least not on the social media.
1. Some loyalists politicians in Hong Kong are involved in the building renovation scandal leading to this disaster.
2. Beijing still does not have the ability to fully control the narrative, at least not on the social media.
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
the buildings in Wang Fuk Estate are *public housing*, and the renewal project's safety compliance had been under scrutiny multiple times, only to be rebuffed by the district councilor as malicious rumors. So jot that down.
November 27, 2025 at 12:28 AM
the buildings in Wang Fuk Estate are *public housing*, and the renewal project's safety compliance had been under scrutiny multiple times, only to be rebuffed by the district councilor as malicious rumors. So jot that down.
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
Hoping Western journalists stop jumping on the bandwagon of blaming the bamboo scaffolding and completely glossing over the negligence of the building developer that the residents themselves have been complaining about. (but you know how it is)
November 27, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Hoping Western journalists stop jumping on the bandwagon of blaming the bamboo scaffolding and completely glossing over the negligence of the building developer that the residents themselves have been complaining about. (but you know how it is)
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
Forty-four people are dead and 279 are missing after a fire engulfed seven residential towers in Tai Po on Wednesday. Of those hospitalised, 45 remain in a serious condition. In full: buff.ly/sXdgQbB
Tai Po fire: 44 dead, 279 missing as firefighters continue to battle blaze; 3 arrested on suspicion of manslaughter | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Forty-four people are dead and 279 are missing after a fire engulfed seven residential towers in Tai Po on Wednesday. Of those hospitalised, 45 remain in a serious condition. Police said three men have...
buff.ly
November 27, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Forty-four people are dead and 279 are missing after a fire engulfed seven residential towers in Tai Po on Wednesday. Of those hospitalised, 45 remain in a serious condition. In full: buff.ly/sXdgQbB
Bring back the nightmare fuelled PSAs
I think if Canada wants to have a strong cultural identity we need to go back to doing what we're best at, making the weirdest fucking TV shows you've ever seen
November 27, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Bring back the nightmare fuelled PSAs
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
I think if Canada wants to have a strong cultural identity we need to go back to doing what we're best at, making the weirdest fucking TV shows you've ever seen
November 26, 2025 at 7:33 PM
I think if Canada wants to have a strong cultural identity we need to go back to doing what we're best at, making the weirdest fucking TV shows you've ever seen
Sure Jan
The HK Committee has axed an outdoor event at Kwun Tong Promenade after being told the venue was unavailable due to "construction work." In full: buff.ly/WQz540W
HK Pride Committee scraps outdoor event after being told venue unavailable
The HK Committee has axed an outdoor event at Kwun Tong Promenade after being told the venue was unavailable due to "construction work."
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Sure Jan
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
HK authorities are considering invoking the homegrown security law for the first time to ban two overseas political groups they deem subversive from operating in the city. In full: buff.ly/ypzt3wN
HK gov't mulls banning 2 'subversive' overseas political groups
HK authorities are considering invoking the homegrown security law for the first time to ban two overseas political groups they deem subversive from operating in the city.
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 5:15 AM
HK authorities are considering invoking the homegrown security law for the first time to ban two overseas political groups they deem subversive from operating in the city. In full: buff.ly/ypzt3wN
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
An anonymous “patriotic organisation” has called for a halt to the production and sale of merchandise for a cancelled LGBTQ-themed theatre production. In full: buff.ly/odbBGL0
'Patriotic organisation' demands halt to merch sale for axed LGBTQ play
An anonymous “patriotic organisation” has called for a halt to the production and sale of merchandise for a cancelled LGBTQ-themed theatre production.
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 7:30 AM
An anonymous “patriotic organisation” has called for a halt to the production and sale of merchandise for a cancelled LGBTQ-themed theatre production. In full: buff.ly/odbBGL0
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
HK authorities have arrested 29 people over alleged attempts to sabotage next month’s “patriots only” legislative race, the city’s security chief has said. In full: buff.ly/IItmuIf
29 arrested over attempts to sabotage legislative polls: HK security chief
HK authorities have arrested 29 people over alleged attempts to sabotage next month’s “patriots only” legislative race, the city’s security chief has said.
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM
HK authorities have arrested 29 people over alleged attempts to sabotage next month’s “patriots only” legislative race, the city’s security chief has said. In full: buff.ly/IItmuIf
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
‘You’re Chinese’: Arunachal Pradesh woman harassed by Shanghai airport officials during transit; told Indian passport ‘invalid’ – Times of India: ‘held for over 18 hours in Shanghai airport’
'You're Chinese': Arunachal woman harassed by Shanghai airport officials; told passport 'invalid' | India News - The Times of India
India News: An Indian national from Arunachal Pradesh faced an 18-hour ordeal at Shanghai Pudong Airport, with Chinese immigration officials deeming her passport
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:57 AM
‘You’re Chinese’: Arunachal Pradesh woman harassed by Shanghai airport officials during transit; told Indian passport ‘invalid’ – Times of India: ‘held for over 18 hours in Shanghai airport’
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
It’s not vaccines
It’s not Tylenol
It’s not circumcisions
It’s not Tylenol
It’s not vaccines
& it’s also not a fucking problem to be eradicated!
Autism is a natural way of being
We don’t need a cure
The only “cure” is love
Unconditional Accommodation
Acceptance
Autism is not a problem to solve
It’s not Tylenol
It’s not circumcisions
It’s not Tylenol
It’s not vaccines
& it’s also not a fucking problem to be eradicated!
Autism is a natural way of being
We don’t need a cure
The only “cure” is love
Unconditional Accommodation
Acceptance
Autism is not a problem to solve
November 21, 2025 at 1:48 AM
It’s not vaccines
It’s not Tylenol
It’s not circumcisions
It’s not Tylenol
It’s not vaccines
& it’s also not a fucking problem to be eradicated!
Autism is a natural way of being
We don’t need a cure
The only “cure” is love
Unconditional Accommodation
Acceptance
Autism is not a problem to solve
It’s not Tylenol
It’s not circumcisions
It’s not Tylenol
It’s not vaccines
& it’s also not a fucking problem to be eradicated!
Autism is a natural way of being
We don’t need a cure
The only “cure” is love
Unconditional Accommodation
Acceptance
Autism is not a problem to solve
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
Some good news this morning - exports of Xinjiang tomatoes have collapsed. Last year I worked with the BBC to expose how XJ tomatoes produced with forced labour were making their way to UK supermarkets via Italy. 🧵
The western Chinese region of Xinjiang dramatically increased tomato cultivation and processing in recent years, but slumping sales to Italy and other western European markets have left it sitting on a vast stockpile of unsold paste. on.ft.com/4i5bFtZ
November 16, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Some good news this morning - exports of Xinjiang tomatoes have collapsed. Last year I worked with the BBC to expose how XJ tomatoes produced with forced labour were making their way to UK supermarkets via Italy. 🧵
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
The MacArthur "Genius" Award-winner was best known as the founder of the Disability Visibility Project, which highlights disabled people and disability culture through storytelling projects, social media and other channels. n.pr/47WGe0m
Disability rights activist and author Alice Wong dies at 51
The MacArthur "Genius" Award-winner was best known as the founder of the Disability Visibility Project, which highlights disabled people and disability culture through storytelling projects, social media and other channels.
n.pr
November 16, 2025 at 4:41 AM
The MacArthur "Genius" Award-winner was best known as the founder of the Disability Visibility Project, which highlights disabled people and disability culture through storytelling projects, social media and other channels. n.pr/47WGe0m
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here:
November 14, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here:
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
In the 1950s, a Danish freighter captain became an unlikely international celebrity when he encountered monster storms but refused to abandon ship, commanding singlehanded until it sunk beneath his feet.
It’s a great story I got to tell in my first YouTube script, a minidoc for Oceanliner Designs.
It’s a great story I got to tell in my first YouTube script, a minidoc for Oceanliner Designs.
They Told Him to Abandon Ship. He Said No.
YouTube video by Oceanliner Designs
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 1:17 PM
In the 1950s, a Danish freighter captain became an unlikely international celebrity when he encountered monster storms but refused to abandon ship, commanding singlehanded until it sunk beneath his feet.
It’s a great story I got to tell in my first YouTube script, a minidoc for Oceanliner Designs.
It’s a great story I got to tell in my first YouTube script, a minidoc for Oceanliner Designs.
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
A reminder that in 2019, Apple removed an app that helped Hong Kong protestors track the police. And that many Hongkongers also actually used to avoid the police because they didn't want to deal with police harassment, police created "tear gas buffets", etc.
Also, this 👇
Also, this 👇
November 11, 2025 at 9:57 AM
A reminder that in 2019, Apple removed an app that helped Hong Kong protestors track the police. And that many Hongkongers also actually used to avoid the police because they didn't want to deal with police harassment, police created "tear gas buffets", etc.
Also, this 👇
Also, this 👇
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
i don't think the consul general of China in Osaka should threaten to behead the prime minister
November 11, 2025 at 6:02 AM
i don't think the consul general of China in Osaka should threaten to behead the prime minister
"Apple has removed two of the most popular gay dating apps in China from the App Store after receiving an order from China’s main internet regulator and censorship authority."
Apple Pulls China’s Top Gay Dating Apps After Government Order
The removal of Blued and Finka marks another setback for China’s marginalized LGBTQ+ community.
www.wired.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:46 AM
"Apple has removed two of the most popular gay dating apps in China from the App Store after receiving an order from China’s main internet regulator and censorship authority."
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
1/ Update: 💕THANK YOU @hongkongfp.com READERS: hongkongfp.com/2025/11/06/t...
November 6, 2025 at 10:23 AM
1/ Update: 💕THANK YOU @hongkongfp.com READERS: hongkongfp.com/2025/11/06/t...
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
Unfortunate that courts have sided against unions, resulting in this hunger strike from Taiwan Railways workers
www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
Taiwan Railway Union on 100-hour hunger strike - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Unfortunate that courts have sided against unions, resulting in this hunger strike from Taiwan Railways workers
www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
Check out @jordynhaime.bsky.social on "Taiwan's Israel Charm Offensive" in the latest issue of her newsletter.
"Now let’s turn to what has been absent from Taiwan’s messaging: any acknowledgement of the accusations of starvation and genocide of the Palestinian people by the Israeli government."
"Now let’s turn to what has been absent from Taiwan’s messaging: any acknowledgement of the accusations of starvation and genocide of the Palestinian people by the Israeli government."
Taiwan's Israel Charm Offensive
Taiwan's appeal to AIPAC is disappointing, but comes as no surprise
jordynhaime.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Check out @jordynhaime.bsky.social on "Taiwan's Israel Charm Offensive" in the latest issue of her newsletter.
"Now let’s turn to what has been absent from Taiwan’s messaging: any acknowledgement of the accusations of starvation and genocide of the Palestinian people by the Israeli government."
"Now let’s turn to what has been absent from Taiwan’s messaging: any acknowledgement of the accusations of starvation and genocide of the Palestinian people by the Israeli government."
Reposted by Ai-Men Lau 劉羿雯
A very revealing deep-dive by Li Hou-chen and our team over at Tian Jian on how China is leveraging influencers — from Taiwan and around the world — for state agendas. linguasinica.substack.com/p/the-influe...
The Influence Machine
A deep-dive into the China trip of Taiwanese influencer Holger Chen exposes the sophisticated network of state-linked influencers and media outlets driving China's push for cross-strait influence.
linguasinica.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:34 AM
A very revealing deep-dive by Li Hou-chen and our team over at Tian Jian on how China is leveraging influencers — from Taiwan and around the world — for state agendas. linguasinica.substack.com/p/the-influe...
Are you fucking kidding me
HK auxiliary police officer gets no jail time for slapping and headbutting 12 year old autistic son.
November 6, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Are you fucking kidding me