Sr Lau, a veteran, well-respected figure in the field of surveying, is well-known for his longstanding, wide-ranging public duties. Currently a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, he has sat on many public boards and government advisory committees looking into pertinent issues from economic development, land and housing, education to integration of Hong Kong with the Mainland. Input from the Hong Kong Coalition of Professional Services co-founded by him in 2001 is often sought for the yearly Policy Address and Budget preparations. Currently a PolyU Council Member, he also serves on the University's Governance Committee and Campus Development Committee, besides having facilitated the establishment of the Federation of PolyU Alumni Associations and raised funds for the PolyU Foundation. His extensive social commitments were rewarded with the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2004, Justice of the Peace in 2016, and the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2017.