Debate contribution: Anna Lo

Debate contribution by Mrs Naomi Long on 11 November 2024.

MLA

Mrs Naomi Long

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

11 November 2024

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Assembly Business

Heading

Anna Lo

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4667004

Read the official Assembly record

Text

This is a tribute that I hoped I would never have to pay. For all of us in the Alliance Party, it is hard to contemplate that Anna is no longer with us. She was full of energy and joy and lit up every room that she entered. It is hard to believe that we will not see her again. On behalf of Alliance, I extend condolences to her sons, Owen and Conall; her daughter-in law, Fiona; her two grandchildren; and her partner, Robert. Anna was hugely proud of her family, and I know that they will truly miss her. When making tributes to public figures, we often speak in superlatives, using words such as trailblazing, unique, groundbreaking and transformational. Few truly deserve such praise, and there are still fewer for whom those words feel inadequate to express what they were to us, but Anna was one of those precious few. Born in Hong Kong, Anna came here and made her home here. Now, at a time when immigration is such a contested issue, we remember with gratitude the fact that Anna chose this place — chose us — and made a huge contribution to the community here. As a translator, a social worker, the chief executive of the Chinese Welfare Association and a Member of the Assembly, Anna's life was one of service. Her compassion, empathy, intelligence and insight made her not just an excellent legislator and Environment Committee Chair, but an outstanding constituency worker. Anna was, however, much more than her work. She was a published author, a gifted artist and someone who loved to spend time walking and hiking in nature; a fact that is reflected in many of her paintings. Her thirst for knowledge and learning — her natural curiosity — made her a joy to be around. I first met Anna when I was a councillor in Belfast City Council, and she was a member of the good relations steering panel. At that time, she was also guiding the plans for the new Chinese Resource Centre through the various procedural hoops for planning and funding. From the minute that I met her, I was hugely impressed by her. Her commitment to the city, to public service and to building a truly shared and united community shone through. Integration and fairness were in her DNA. I saw in Anna the qualities that would make her an excellent public representative, and I asked her, in 2007, whether she would consider running for Alliance in South Belfast. She could not have been more surprised when I asked, and I could not have been more delighted when she agreed. After she spoke to the local association at a selection meeting, only days later, they were thrilled to select her as their candidate. The rest, as they say, is history. That was genuine history in the making, however, in that Anna became the first person from an ethnic minority background to be elected in Northern Ireland and the first person from a Chinese background to be elected to any legislature in western Europe. She paved the way for others from minority backgrounds to participate and contribute, and, as a society, we are much the richer for that. Her election showed the best of us in Northern Ireland: warm, welcoming, diverse and confident. That was the Northern Ireland that she loved and helped to nurture. Sadly, however, her election also brought out the worst in some people: Anna was subjected to appalling racism and abuse. Anna's bravery in facing down her abusers, on her own behalf and on behalf of others, was matched only by the support and encouragement that flowed towards her from friends, colleagues and constituents, all of whom were inspired by her resilience. There could be no more passionate and consistent an advocate for the causes that she took up and that were close to her heart. To have Anna on your side was to have a determined and persistent champion, whether that be for the protection of the environment, human rights or equality and women's rights. For those of us who knew her best, Anna was not just a colleague but a friend. Over the years, she was a huge encouragement and support to me, as she was to many. I will miss her directness, candour, wit and humour so much. Anna quietly shaped and, on occasion, even changed my views in ways that she will never know, all thanks to her honesty and compassion. For those of you who know me, you will appreciate the achievement that that represents. Anna was not a religious person. As a humanist, she believed in the goodness of people and their ability to transcend division. She exemplified that, every day of her life. Good things do, indeed, come in small packages, and Anna Lo was the best of us. She was my friend: warm, witty, funny, fierce, courageous and kind. I will miss her enormously, but she will live on in her legacy and in the hearts of all those whom she touched with her kindness.

846 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:32 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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