Datuk Lau completed his high school education in 1965. He worked in an enterprise, a family owned departmental store situated in Kota Kinabalu. Subsequently in 1967, he was responsible for the day-to-day management of the business and later he took over the operation in 1973.
In 1975, he was involved in setting up KTC Sdn Bhd which provide market access and coverage of third party brands of personal care products namely skin care products in Sabah.
In 1983, he co-founded KTC Tawau with his brother-in-law, Lim Hui Kiong. In 2000, he set up the distribution centre in Sandakan and in 2003, he established AMDA Marketing (Sabah) Sdn Bhd (now known as KTC Borneo), in which established KTC’s strong footing in Sarawak.
Currently, he is the National Vice President of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce and Honorary Life Adviser to the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce, Sabah Branch.
He is also the Honorary Life President of the United Sabah Chinese Communities Association and the Honorary Life Chairman of Kota Kinabalu Hokkien Association and Sabah Ann Koai Association, an Honorary Advisor for the Kota Kinabalu Journalists Association.