Revive China Society
Yau was a member of the Furen Literary Society, which was set up to spread the idea of revolution. He introduced Yeung Kui-wan, the leader of Furen, to Sun, who had already established the Revive China Society in Honolulu, Hawaii. After the Furen Literary Society was merged into the Revive China Society to set up the Hong Kong Chapter of the Revive China Society, Yau participated in plotting the Canton Uprising of 1895. The uprising failed, and Lu Haodong was among the revolutionaries killed by Qing soldiers. Yau had to flee to Saigon.