Pioneering Chinese Parliamentarian Anna Lo Dies at 74

The Alliance Party has honored its former assembly member, Anna Lo, describing her as “ground-breaking” and “trailblazing,” following her death at 74 years old. Ms. Lo achieved distinction as the first ethnic-minority politician elected to Stormont and the first Chinese individual to secure election to a legislative parliament in western Europe. Naomi Long, the leader of the Alliance, referred to Ms. Lo as a “great friend” and commended her “dedication and passion for serving her constituents” in Belfast. Ms. Long further noted Ms. Lo’s courage in confronting the “appalling racism” she encountered throughout her political career. Born in Hong Kong, Anna Lo relocated to Northern Ireland in 1974. Initially, she held positions as a translator and a BBC secretary before pursuing studies at Ulster University, where she qualified to work as a social worker. Subsequently, she became the director of the Chinese Welfare Association in Belfast and a founding commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Lo was initially elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007, representing South Belfast for the Alliance Party. She was re-elected five years later and continued to serve until her retirement in 2016. Her sons, Owen and Conall Watson, characterized her as a “campaigner for equality and social justice in Northern Ireland.” In a family statement, they confirmed her passing at Belfast City Hospital on Wednesday, due to complications from 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 stated. “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 further added. In a party statement, the Alliance leader declared: “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 mentioned that 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.” Ms. Long concluded that she would “miss her warmth, her humour, her kindness and her courage as will everyone in Alliance,”. Former Alliance leader David Ford remarked: “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 stated that it was a “huge boost” for 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.” “You know? Punching through that glass ceiling which was keeping the assembly, up to that stage, totally white and predominantly male.” Mr. Ford described her as 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 recounted. “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. ” However, he said he would personally remember her as “an incredibly warm personality” whose interest in people was evident in every aspect of her life. The First Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle O’Neill, conveyed her condolences on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressing that she was “deeply saddened” by the news. “Anna was a passionate and dedicated representative who was never afraid to speak her mind and worked to build a better society for all,” O’Neill wrote. “My thoughts are with her family, friends, and former colleagues at this sad time.” Lo participated in several assembly scrutiny committees, including serving as chair of the environment committee. In 2014, she announced her decision not to seek re-election, attributing it to continuous racist abuse. Earlier that year, she garnered attention after expressing her preference for a united Ireland while campaigning as an Alliance election candidate for the European Parliament. She is survived by her sons Conall and Owen, two grandchildren, and her partner Robert.