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Anna Lo

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Anna Lo
MBE
Lo in 2014
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Belfast South
In office
7 March 2007 – 7 May 2016
Preceded byEsmond Birnie
Succeeded byPaula Bradshaw
Personal details
Born
Anna Manwah Lo

(1950-06-16)16 June 1950
North Point, British Hong Kong
Died6 November 2024(2024-11-06) (aged 74)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Political partyAlliance
Spouse(s)
David Watson
​
​
(m. 1974; div. 2010)​

Gavin Millar
​
​
(m. 2010; sep. 2012)​
Children2
Alma materUlster University
ProfessionSocial worker
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese盧曼華
Simplified Chinese卢曼华
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLú Mànhuá
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingLou4 Maan6 Waa4
IPA[lɔw˩ man˨wa˩]

Anna Manwah Lo,[a] or Anna Lo Man-wah,[3] MBE (Married name: Anna Watson;[b] 16 June 1950 – 6 November 2024) was a Northern Irish politician of the Alliance Party.[6] She was a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Belfast South from 2007 to 2016 and was a former president of the Alliance Party.

Early life

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Anna Manwah Lo was born in North Point, British Hong Kong, to Hongkonger parents on 16 June 1950.[7][8][9][10] Her parents were born in Mainland China and had moved to British Hong Kong in 1948, one year before the Chinese Civil War had ended.[7][11] She attended Shau Kei Wan East Government Secondary School.[3] She moved to Northern Ireland in 1974[12] after meeting journalist David Watson.[3] Lo later graduated from Ulster University, becoming the first trained social worker of ethnic minority background in Northern Ireland.[13]

She spent her early years in the country working for the BBC and the Royal Ulster Constabulary as an interpreter. In 1978 she started an English evening class for Chinese people in Northern Ireland.[10]

Political career

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Lo was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast South in the 2007 assembly election.[6] She was the first and, to date, only ethnic-minority politician elected at a regional level in Northern Ireland and the first politician born in East Asia elected to any legislative body in the United Kingdom.[14][15]

Lo stood as an Alliance Party candidate in Belfast South. After her re-election in 2011, Lo was appointed the chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly's Environment Committee.[16] She used this role to influence the Local Government Bill. As a result of her amendments, the new Councils have greater levels of openness and transparency as the audio of the main Council meetings is now recorded and Council papers are placed online. She further improved the freedom of the press at the new Councils by ensuring that journalists and the public can use social media during meetings.[17] Lo was a former president of the Alliance Party and had been president from October 2016 to March 2017.[18][19]

She was selected as the Alliance Party's candidate for the Northern Ireland constituency in the 2014 European Parliament election. She received the highest percentage of votes in an European Parliament election for her party until that election.[20] Her performance was surpassed in 2019.[21]

Lo was the target of racial abuse by Ulster loyalists[22][23] and did not stand for re-election as MLA in 2016 as a result.[24]

Political views

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Lo declared her preference for Irish unification. She described herself as anti-colonial and said the partition of Ireland was "artificial".[25] Lo also referred to herself as "a socialist and a republican in the international sense".[26]

She expressed her outrage at First Minister Peter Robinson's defence of Pastor James McConnell, who was accused of making Islamophobic remarks.[22] She stated that she viewed the Democratic Unionist Party to be racist because of decisions such as those.[26]

Lo supported moves to liberalise abortion laws in Northern Ireland and voted to extend the Abortion Act 1967, which already applies to the rest of the United Kingdom, to Northern Ireland.[27][28]

Personal life and death

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Lo was a social worker and former chair of the Northern Ireland Chinese Welfare Association.[3] She served from 1997 and was chair as of October 2019.[7][29] Lo was awarded an MBE for services to Ethnic Minorities in the 2000 New Year Honours.[22][30] Lo received an honorary doctorate from the Open University in October 2018.[31]

Lo's autobiography, The Place I Call Home: From Hong Kong to Belfast - My Story, was published by the Blackstaff Press in October 2016.[12][7]

Lo was married to Belfast Telegraph journalist David Watson from October 1974 until their divorce in 2010.[7][32] Watson died in December 2010.[33] She later married businessman Gavin Millar, getting engaged in June 2010 and separating in 2012.[34][35] Lo had a partner named Robert and had 2 children and 2 grandchildren.[36]

From 2007, Lo suffered from non-Hodgkin lymphoma. An atheist and a self-described humanist, Lo was a supporter of Humanists UK and its Northern Ireland branch, Northern Ireland Humanists. In 2015, she was the only MLA of seven non-religious MLAs who was willing to go public as an atheist in an interview with the BBC. She helped launch Northern Ireland Humanists at an event in Stormont in 2016 and supported many of the charity's campaigns, including on abortion rights.[37]

Lo died of complications from non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the Belfast City Hospital on 6 November 2024, at the age of 74.[38][39] In a statement, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said "Anna will forever be remembered as a ground-breaker in local politics. Her service to the Chinese community, (...), was transformational."[40]

Bibliography

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  • Lo, Anna (13 October 2016). The Place I Call Home: From Hong Kong to Belfast - My Story. Edited by Michelle Griffin for Colourpoint Books. Newtownards: Blackstaff Press. ISBN 0856409855, 978-0856409851 OCLC 953843693.
  • Lo, Anna (3 March 2017). The Place I Call Home: From Hong Kong to Belfast - My Story. Kindle Edition. Newtownards: Blackstaff Press. ISBN 0856409952, 9780856409950 ASIN B06XCZYX9G.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Tunney, Liam (8 November 2024). "'Energetic and inspiring': Chinese Welfare Association pays warm tribute to late Anna Lo". BelfastTelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Equality Commission Annual Report 2001-2002" (PDF). Conflict Archive on the Internet. 28 January 2003. p. 68. ISBN 1-903941-28-8. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "Growing hostility to foreigners drives Hong Kong-born Anna Lo out of Northern Ireland politics". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Meeting over Chinese attacks". BBC News. 1 November 2000. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Schools - Citizenship 2000 - Pluralism". BBC Northern Ireland. 2000. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Belfast politician defies racists", BBC News, 26 March 2007.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Anna Lo: 'You just learn to survive... you need to be tough'". The News Letter. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  8. ^ Zeltner, Felix (4 April 2007). "Politikerin in Belfast: Wie eine Chinesin Nordirland verändern will". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  9. ^ Kula, Adam (7 November 2024). "Former Alliance MLA Anna Lo dies aged 74 – Naomi Long hails her 'service to the city of Belfast'". News Letter. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Anna Lo: 'It was horrific, I had people ringing saying how dare you'". Belfast Telegraph. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  11. ^ McKay, Susan (17 March 2007). "Breaking new ground". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Anna Lo: an election journey". Linen Hall Library. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  13. ^ Ferguson, Heather (1 January 2017). "Mind the culture gap". The Times. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  14. ^ O'Boyle, Claire (27 January 2017). "I don't buy it, says Anna Lo of Alliance Party racism and ageism claims". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  15. ^ "BBC Northern Ireland Alliance party selects Anna Lo". BBC News. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  16. ^ "The Official Report". Niassembly.gov.uk. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  17. ^ "Lo highlights Alliance amendments to Local Government Bill (The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland)". Alliance Party. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  18. ^ "'I said that I'd give Northern Ireland six months when I came over... four decades later, I'm still here'". BelfastTelegraph. 24 October 2016. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Lo: Democracy and peace must underpin NI politics". The Alliance Party Archive. 25 March 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  20. ^ White, Bill (4 September 2014). "Elections round-up: Alliance outperforms against pollster prediction". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  21. ^ "European elections: Dodds, Anderson and Long elected". 27 May 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  22. ^ a b c "Only Chinese-born parliamentarian in UK to quit politics over racist abuse". The Guardian. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  23. ^ McDonald, Henry (8 February 2014). "Chinese politician racially abused online by Northern Ireland loyalists". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Anna Lo to quit NI politics over disillusionment". BBC News. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  25. ^ "Anna Lo: 'United Ireland' remarks 'insulting', say unionists". BBC News. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  26. ^ a b Breen, Suzanne (24 October 2016). "Ex-Alliance MLA Anna Lo: Why I'd vote for a united Ireland". Retrieved 9 April 2020. I am a socialist and a republican in the international sense," she said. "I don't believe in the monarchy or in inherited wealth, privilege and position. But when I met the Queen I was respectful because she is the head of State.
  27. ^ Letters (19 October 2008). "Legalise abortion in Northern Ireland". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  28. ^ "MLAs' vote to alter law on abortion faces delay". Belfast Telegraph. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  29. ^ "Defining Public Duties to Tackle Incitement to Hatred whilst Respecting Freedom of Expression: REVIEWING THE LEGAL & POLICY FRAMEWORK" (PDF). Equality Coalition. 3 October 2019. p. 22. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  30. ^ Breen, Susanne (24 October 2016). "Ex-Alliance MLA Anna Lo: Why I'd vote for a united Ireland". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  31. ^ Murphy, Christine (8 October 2018). "Anna Lo receives honorary doctorate from The Open University". Open University. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  32. ^ "Anna Lo MLA". agendaNi. 4 May 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  33. ^ Morton, Robin (17 December 2010). "Obituary: David Watson". BelfastTelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  34. ^ "Old vehicle club gears up for busy summertime of events". NorthernIrelandWorld. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  35. ^ Monaghan, John (1 November 2016). "Former Alliance MLA Anna Lo alleges husband 'assaulted' her during marriage". The Irish News. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  36. ^ Manley, John (7 November 2024). "Former Alliance president Anna Lo remembered as 'political trail blazer'". Irish News. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  37. ^ "Northern Ireland Humanists pay tribute to humanist trailblazer Anna Lo". Humanists UK. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  38. ^ "Anna Lo: Tributes after former Alliance Party MLA dies aged 74". The Irish Times. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  39. ^ Lynch, Connor (7 November 2024). "Tributes paid to "groundbreaking" former Belfast MLA". Belfast Live. Reach plc. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  40. ^ "Anna Lo: Former NI assembly member dies". BBC News. 7 November 2024.

Notes

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  1. ^ Alternatively:Anna Man-Wah Lo[1][2]
    simplified Chinese: 卢曼华; traditional Chinese: 盧曼華; Jyutping: Lou4 Maan6 Waa4
  2. ^ Sources:[4][5]
[edit]
Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by MLA for Belfast South
2007–2016 		Succeeded by
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