In February 2015, Lam, then a customs officer, spoke against the government's "multiple-entry" Individual Visit Endorsements that permits Shenzhen residents to enter Hong Kong easier during a protest.

[1] Because of Lam's pro-democracy stance, AbuThai was considered to be a part of yellow economic circle, a loose business coalition that was backed by opposition protestors, especially after the 2019 large scale protest.

The most important thing is that I did nothing wrong and I did nothing illegal, so even if I will be prosecuted or imprisoned, in the end, my conscience is clear.On 6 January 2021, Mike Lam was arrested by the national security police for subversion over his participation in the primaries.

[23] Five people, including two minors, were arrested after allegedly harassing customers and demanding to meet Mike Lam after news of his decision to be prosecution witness emerged.

[24] Lam declared in March that his grocery chain has severed ties with the yellow economic circle, describing the movement as "wrong" while echoing the authorities.