24th December 2024 – (Hong Kong) Carina Lau, the celebrated Hong Kong actress, recently marked her 59th birthday on 8th December while performing in the stage play “The Truth About Lying,” alongside Dayo Wong. As she continues to captivate audiences, a set of photographs from 31 years ago has emerged, capturing her in a Shanghai courtroom.
The images, shared by a visitor to the China Court Museum, date back to February 1993, when a 28-year-old Lau appeared in court for a landmark case regarding the infringement of her portrait rights. Dressed in a dark plaid top, Lau exuded determination as she sat in the plaintiff’s section. The accompanying text notes that on 9th February 1993, the Shanghai Intermediate People’s Court publicly heard her case against Yalis Cosmetics, Shanghai No. 1 Department Store, and Shanghai Hualian Commercial Building.
In 1992, Lau discovered her likeness was used without consent in advertisements and product packaging for Yalis cosmetics at these retailers. She initiated legal proceedings, seeking 1 million yuan in damages, making this one of the first cases involving a Hong Kong citizen’s portrait rights in mainland China. Ultimately, Lau withdrew her claims against the stores, receiving 100,000 yuan in compensation, which she generously donated to the Hope Project.
