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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| UK's first Chinese parliamentarian dies at 74 | UK's first Chinese parliamentarian dies at 74 |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| Anna Lo was born in Hong Kong and moved to Northern Ireland in 1974 | Anna Lo was born in Hong Kong and moved to Northern Ireland in 1974 |
| The Alliance Party has paid tribute to its "ground-breaking" and "trailblazing" former assembly member Anna Lo, who has died at the age of 74. | The Alliance Party has paid tribute to its "ground-breaking" and "trailblazing" former assembly member Anna Lo, who has died at the age of 74. |
| Ms Lo was the first ethnic-minority politician elected to Stormont, and the first Chinese-born person to be elected to a legislative parliament in western Europe | Ms Lo was the first ethnic-minority politician elected to Stormont, and the first Chinese-born person to be elected to a legislative parliament in western Europe |
| Alliance leader Naomi Long described her as a "great friend" and paid tribute to her "dedication and passion for serving her constituents" in Belfast. | Alliance leader Naomi Long described her as a "great friend" and paid tribute to her "dedication and passion for serving her constituents" in Belfast. |
| She added that Ms Lo had been brave in confronting the "appalling racism" she faced during her political career. | She added that Ms Lo had been brave in confronting the "appalling racism" she faced during her political career. |
| Anna Lo represented the Alliance Part at the Northern Ireland Assembly | Anna Lo represented the Alliance Part at the Northern Ireland Assembly |
| 'Championing causes from hospital bed' | |
| Born in Hong Kong, Anna Lo moved to Northern Ireland in 1974. | Born in Hong Kong, Anna Lo moved to Northern Ireland in 1974. |
| At first she took jobs as a translator and as a BBC secretary, before attending Ulster University where she qualified to begin work as a social worker. | |
| She later became the director of the Chinese Welfare Association in Belfast and a founding commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. | |
| Lo was first elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007, representing South Belfast for the Alliance Party. | |
| She was re-elected five years later and served until her retirement in 2016. | |
| Her sons, Owen and Conall Watson described her as a "campaigner for equality and social justice in Northern Ireland". | |
| In a family statement, they confirmed that she died in Belfast City Hospital on Wednesday, following complications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. | |
| They added that even from her hospital bed, she "continued to champion the issues that she had dedicated her life to". | |
| "We are incredibly proud of Anna and what she achieved throughout her life and career," her sons said. | |
| "She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, partner and friend, whose energy, joy and integrity inspired those she met." | |
| "Anna stood for and fought for equality, for women’s rights, against discrimination including racism, and for a political system to serve the needs of people rather than reinforce historic divisions," they added. | |
| 'Trailblazer in Northern Ireland politics' | |
| Anna Lo was also an Alliance candidate in the European elections in 2014 | |
| In a party statement, the Alliance leader said: "Anna will forever be remembered as a ground-breaker in local politics." | |
| Ms Long added: "Her service to the Chinese community, to good relations and to the city of Belfast, much of which went unseen by most, was transformational." | |
| She said her friend had "a number of causes close to her heart, including protection of the environment and human rights, and was a strong voice on women's rights and equality". | |
| Former Alliance leader David Ford also expressed his condolences and described Ms Lo as a “trailblazer in Northern Ireland politics”. | Former Alliance leader David Ford also expressed his condolences and described Ms Lo as a “trailblazer in Northern Ireland politics”. |
| “I first met Anna in her previous career as a social worker, where she was known for the exemplary care she gave all her clients,” he said. | “I first met Anna in her previous career as a social worker, where she was known for the exemplary care she gave all her clients,” he said. |
| “On a professional level, she gave Alliance a massive boost when she made the party’s first Assembly gain, in South Belfast in 2007.” | “On a professional level, she gave Alliance a massive boost when she made the party’s first Assembly gain, in South Belfast in 2007.” |
| He added: “I am sad to hear the news of her passing but her legacy as a trailblazer in Northern Ireland politics will live on.” | He added: “I am sad to hear the news of her passing but her legacy as a trailblazer in Northern Ireland politics will live on.” |
| Lo served on several assembly scrutiny committees, including as chair of the environment committee. | Lo served on several assembly scrutiny committees, including as chair of the environment committee. |
| In 2014, she said she would not be seeking re-election, explaining that continual racist abuse had influenced her decision. | |
| She made headlines earlier that year after declaring her preference for a united Ireland at a time when she was an Alliance election candidate for the European Parliament. | |
| She is survived by her sons Conall and Owen, two grandchildren and partner Robert. | She is survived by her sons Conall and Owen, two grandchildren and partner Robert. |