A method for manufacturing a hot cathode fluorescent lamp can ensure or facilitate stable initial luminous intensity and provide improved product life characteristics even when the hot cathode fluorescent lamp employs a glass tube with an outer diameter of less than 7 mmφ. One end of a glass tube can be sealed with a glass bead of a mount structure. The other opening end of the glass tube can be welded with an opening end of an exhaust pipe with bent portions of lead wires being sandwiched between the opening ends of the glass tube and the exhaust pipe. After evacuating a vacuum system that is constituted by the inner spaces of the glass tube and the exhausted pipe communicating with each other, the bent portions of the lead wires which extrude outside the vacuum system can be clamp-connected to power source lines extending from an external power source. The emitter of the filaments can be activated by the generated heat of the filament. After supplying mercury and a rare gas into the glass tube, the glass bead can be sealed, and unnecessary portions of the glass tube, the exhaust pipe, and the lead wires can be removed to complete the hot cathode fluorescent lamp, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosed subject matter.