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| UK's first Chinese parliamentarian dies at 74 | UK's first Chinese parliamentarian dies at 74 |
| (about 2 hours 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 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 was a community worker who became a leading politician | Anna Lo was a community worker who became a leading politician |
| 'Championing causes from hospital bed' | '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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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". | 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. | "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." | "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. | "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. |
| Anna Lo's sons described her as a "wonderful mother, grandmother, partner and friend" | Anna Lo's sons described her as a "wonderful mother, grandmother, partner and friend" |
| 'Trailblazer in Northern Ireland politics' | 'Trailblazer in Northern Ireland politics' |
| In a party statement, the Alliance leader said: "Anna will forever be remembered as a ground-breaker in local politics." | 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." | 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". | 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". |
| She added that she would "miss her warmth, her humour, her kindness and her courage as will everyone in Alliance,". | She added that she would "miss her warmth, her humour, her kindness and her courage as will everyone in Alliance,". |
| Former Alliance leader David Ford said: “I am sad to hear the news of her passing but her legacy as a trailblazer in Northern Ireland politics will live on.” | Former Alliance leader David Ford said: “I am sad to hear the news of her passing but her legacy as a trailblazer in Northern Ireland politics will live on.” |
| Speaking on the BBC's Evening Extra programme he said it was a "huge boost" to Alliance in 2007 when she became "the first ethnic Chinese legislator in Europe". | Speaking on the BBC's Evening Extra programme he said it was a "huge boost" to Alliance in 2007 when she became "the first ethnic Chinese legislator in Europe". |
| "It was a statement that Northern Ireland is a different society, a changing society, and Anna was prepared to be part of demonstrating that herself. | "It was a statement that Northern Ireland is a different society, a changing society, and Anna was prepared to be part of demonstrating that herself. |
| "You know, punching through that glass ceiling which was keeping the assembly, up to that stage, totally white and predominantly male." | "You know, punching through that glass ceiling which was keeping the assembly, up to that stage, totally white and predominantly male." |
| Mr Ford said she was a formidable politician who despite her small physical stature "intellectually punched well above her weight". | Mr Ford said she was a formidable politician who despite her small physical stature "intellectually punched well above her weight". |
| "I reminded of an occasion that she left party headquarters in University Street and found a couple of characters who were trying to interfere with her car," he recalled. | "I reminded of an occasion that she left party headquarters in University Street and found a couple of characters who were trying to interfere with her car," he recalled. |
| "And she just went straight down towards them and they ran away. | "And she just went straight down towards them and they ran away. |
| "So five-foot-nothing Anna was able to terrify street hoodlums who were probably 30 years younger than her. " | "So five-foot-nothing Anna was able to terrify street hoodlums who were probably 30 years younger than her. " |
| But he said he personally would remember her as "an incredibly warm personality" whose interest in people shone through every aspect of her life. | But he said he personally would remember her as "an incredibly warm personality" whose interest in people shone through every aspect of her life. |
| Anna Lo spoke out about racist abuse and intimidation throughout her career | Anna Lo spoke out about racist abuse and intimidation throughout her career |
| 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. | 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 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. |