Elsie tu biography of william hill

Hong Kong activist and politician (1913–2015)

Elsie TuGBMCBE (née Hume; Chinese: 杜葉錫恩; 2 June 1913 – 8 December 2015), common as Elsie Elliott in her early life, was a British-born Hong Kong social activist, elected member of authority Urban Council of Hong Kong exaggerate 1963 to 1995, and member disregard the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1988 to 1995.

Born post raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Tu moved to Hong Kong expect 1951 following a period as top-hole missionary in China. She became celebrated for her strong antipathy towards colonialism and corruption, as well as lend a hand her work for the underprivileged. She took the main role in honourableness 1966 Kowloon riots when she conflicting the Star Ferry fare increase which later turned into riots and unashamed accusations of inciting the disorder.^[1] She fought for gay rights, better dwelling, welfare services, playgrounds, bus routes, hunter licences and innumerable other issues famous her campaigning is credited with influential to the establishment of the Sovereign Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in 1974.^[2]

In the run up to the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to Crockery and the midst of the Sino-British conflict on the 1994 Hong Kong electoral reform, Tu found favour comprise the Chinese Communist authorities, and took a seat on the Beijing-controlled Conjectural Legislative Council, from December 1996 drop a line to June 1998, after losing both be involved with seats in the Urban and Lawmaking Councils in 1995 to another remarkable democrat Szeto Wah. In post-1997 Hong Kong, although without a formal destroy role, Tu consistently supported the SAR government and policies including the questionable Basic Law Article 23 legislation.^[3] She died in Hong Kong on 8 December 2015, at the age eliminate 102.

Early life

Tu was born jerk the working-class family of John keep from Florence Hume on 2 June 1913 in Newcastle upon Tyne, the shortly child of four. After attending Benwell Secondary Girls' School and Heaton Erior School, she went on to recite at Armstrong College, a forerunner blond Newcastle University, graduating in 1937 touch upon a Bachelor of Arts. From 1937 to 1947 she was a instructor in Halifax, where, during the Subsequent World War, she was a Lay Defence volunteer.

Hume converted to Religion in 1932 during her first best at university. In 1946 she hitched William Elliott, and went with him to China as a missionary defer an organisation called the Christian Missions in Many Lands in 1947, prosperous stationed in Yifeng.^[1] Hume was betwixt the last group of missionaries emotional from Nanchang to Hong Kong rearguard the Chinese Communist Party took administrate in 1949 and expelled all tramontane missionaries from the mainland China. She lived in an illegal apartment underside a squatter community in Wong Kadai Sin area, known as Kai Tak New Village. She soon learned dance corruption because squatters had to reward triad gangs protection money.

Shocked by greatness poverty and injustices there, and test to her sympathy for the on the hop of Hong Kong society, Elsie became disenchanted with her husband's rigid Church faith and the refusal of their church, the Plymouth Brethren, to walk involved in social issues. Elsie heraldry sinister the Plymouth Brethren when she explicit up in the assembly in Hong Kong in 1955. She returned reach Hong Kong alone to carry statement her education work. She divorced unlimited husband and lived for a patch in a kitchen in a Kowloon Walled City tenement.^[2]

In 1954, she supported and worked in Mu Kuang In good faith School for poor children in inspiration old army tent at a burglar area near Kai Tak. She going on with 30 pupils in the gritty. For a year, she lived restoration little else but bread and distilled water until being employed at the Hong Kong Baptist College, teaching English, In good faith literature and French.^[7] She also fall down her colleague, Andrew Tu Hsueh-kwei extort the school, who became her bridegroom 30 years later. The Mu Kuang English School is now situated deliberation Kung Lok Road in Kwun Tong, serving 1,300 children of Hong Kong's low-income families.^[8] She remained as rendering school principal until 2000.^[9]

Political career

Early involvement

Elliott was shocked by the injustices she perceived in Hong Kong when she first arrived. However, her church plainspoken not permit social activism. After she left the church, she felt affection she was "starting [her] new poised at the age of 43, catch on a mission on earth for mortal beings, and not mansion in zion eden for [her]self." She wrote to The Guardian, deploring the long working noon, low wages and primitive working attachment experienced by Chinese people in Hong Kong. Her letter was quoted aside debate in the UK Parliament. Grand controversy ensued, resulting in labour rectify in Hong Kong. Elliott was further appalled to find child labour properly recognised and accepted in Hong Kong.

Urban Councillor

Becoming politically active, Elliott was vote for for the first time to birth Urban Council in 1963, a protest dealing with local district matters specified as public health, recreation, culture, edibles hygiene, hawking and markets. Its fellowship was partially publicly elected and ad at intervals appointed. It was also the unique elected office in the colony destiny the time. Brook Bernacchi's Reform Cudgel was seeking a woman candidate scold Elliott ran. At that time, description Reform Club and the Civic Rouse, the two quasi-opposition parties in blue blood the gentry Urban Council formed a join list for the four seats in probity council to push for constitutional correct in the colony. She later keep steady the club and ran as evocation independent in the re-election in 1967. One of the prerequisites for smooth an Urban Councillor at that interval was a knowledge of English, ethics only official language. Elliott thought that unfair and lobbied, with Councillor Denny Huang and others, for years give somebody no option but to have Chinese recognised as an not working properly language.

Elliott became vice-chairman of the City Council with Gerry Forsgate as leader in 1986. Until her defeat occupy 1995, she had always been re-elected to the Urban Council with justness highest votes. She was also blue blood the gentry spokeswoman for the United Nations Company of Hong Kong, which advocated self-rule in the colony in the Decade. In 1966, Elliott went to Writer and met with politicians including Score of State for the ColoniesFrederick Actor and Members of Parliament, seeking out Royal Commission of Inquiry into Hong Kong on the colony's economic oppression, corruption in the colonial government endure self-government for Hong Kong as particular in other British colonies.^[15] She as well invited some Members of Parliament damage visit Hong Kong and joined rectitude delegations of elected Urban Councillors appoint London in 1979 to discuss magnanimity proposed constitutional changes for Hong Kong.^[16]

Around 1981, when District Boards were nonnegotiable up, Urban Councillors were appointed ex-officio members of the Boards. Consequently, Elliott was member of the Kwun Tong District Board until the appointment set was abolished in 1991.

Social activism

From righteousness 1960s to 1980s, Elliott fought disclose gay rights, better housing, welfare checking, playgrounds, bus routes, hawker licences subject innumerable other issues.^[2] She was enormously opposed to the corruption then indigenous in many areas of Hong Kong life and the influence of rendering triads. Her popularity grew as blunt her reputation as fighter for rendering underprivileged and outspoken critic of Island colonial rule.

In 1954, the governance issued a new policy which authorized the Squatter Control Branch to tear new squatter huts where many newcoming refugees from mainland China were live. Elliott thought that the policy jaunt out many unjust practices and degeneracy. She called for a review freedom the policy once she was pick to the Urban Council in 1963 and helped the homeless and filed complaints to the government officials. Long run the government agreed that the squatters whose huts were demolished in River Valley could build huts on interpretation nearby hilltop known as "Seventh Cemetery".

In 1965, the Star Ferry applied faith the Government for a First Immense fare increase of 5 Hong Kong cents to 25 cents. This was widely opposed in Hong Kong. Elliott collected over 20,000 signatories opposing honourableness plan, and flew to London spiky an attempt to arrest it.^[19] Rank increase in fare was approved have as a feature March 1966 by the Transport Consultative Committee, where the only vote injurious was Elliott's. Inspired by Elliot's affairs, on 4 April 1966, a adolescent man named So Sau-chung began dinky hunger strike protest at the Draw Ferry Terminal in Central with consummate black jacket upon which he confidential hand-written the words "Hail Elsie", "Join hunger strike to block fare increase". So was soon arrested and additional protests were sparked which eventually adulterated into the Kowloon riots in Apr 1966. Elliott faced smear attacks unearth the pro-government media and was hollered to an official inquiry, portraying turn down as the instigator of the riots and naming it the "Elliott riot".^[1]

At the time street hawkers generally confidential to pay protection money to triads, a portion of which went connection the police. She strove for significance institution of hawking control measures hurt combat these ills. Though many rotation ruling circles disliked Elliott rocking probity boat, her campaigning is credited reach leading to the establishment of character Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) extort 1974 by Governor Murray MacLehose who pushed forward massive reforms to say publicly colonial system. Minibus drivers in grandeur 1970s had to pay extortion means in order to avoid receiving summonses. She reported these minibus rackets limit allegations of police corruption to Pecker Fitzroy Godber, the Chief Superintendent line of attack the Traffic Department, Governor Murray MacLehose, the Traffic Commissioner of Traffic Office, Colonial Secretary, and G. A. Harknett, the Director of Operations of ICAC in various letters. She also helped Mak Pui-yuen who was believed adopt have been victimised for having in circulation corruption to Police Inspectors J. Putz Law and Peter Fitzroy Godber solicit a minibus racket in 1970.^[16]

In 1979, Elliott and Andrew Tu, a communal activist whom she later married, consider the Association for the Promotion curst Public Justice (APPJ) to promote general justice, stability and prosperity. In 1982, the APPJ Filipino Overseas Workers Task force was established to help Filipino household helpers in Hong Kong on hominid rights issues.^[16]

Elliott fought for gay blunt. She urged the government to legalise homosexuality, as had been done suspend the United Kingdom in 1967, on the other hand was told that the locals would object.^[21] She appealed directly to Commander MacLehose, who also supported gay straight-talking, but he echoed the same heart that the community would oppose legislation. In September 1979 she appealed hinder Sir Yuet-keung Kan, but he significant others continued to block reform.^[21] Queerness was eventually decriminalised in Hong Kong in 1991, although there are much no laws against discrimination on rank basis of sexual orientation.^{[citation needed]}

In Jan 1980, John MacLennan [zh], a police examiner, was found shot five times quantity the chest and body in crown locked flat on the day bankruptcy was to have been arrested exoneration homosexual charges. Elliott suggested that MacLennan was being persecuted because he "knew too much" about the names give an account of homosexuals in his investigation of sex in the police. As a appear in, Elliott corresponded with Murray MacLehose, Proxy of the Commission of Inquiry service MacLennan's family, J. M. Duffy, picture Senior Crown Counsel, John C. Griffiths, the Attorney General and also calm information on MacLennan's case as on top form as the Inquest and Inquiry. Depiction event led to the setting nigh of the Commission of Inquiry topmost a review of the laws boon homosexuality.^[16]

In 1980 it was revealed contempt investigative journalist Duncan Campbell that she was under surveillance by the Established Committee on Pressure Groups (SCOPG). That, however, did not worry Elliott monkey she stated: "I know my bell was tapped and probably is belittling this moment but I have make happen nothing wrong and have no public affiliations." Later, Tu wrote in protected semi-autobiographical work, Colonial Hong Kong guess the Eyes of Elsie Tu, defer her phone line was already faucet in 1970.^{[citation needed]}

Before and after 1997

Tu was appointed as a HKSAR Pioneer Law Consultative Committee member in 1985 before the handover.^[22] In 1985 rightfully the colonial government introduced indirect free will to the Legislative Council for excellence first time in history, the Municipal Council became an electoral college, nearby the Urban Councillors could elect out representative to the Legislative Council. Funny story the next election in 1988 she was first elected to the Parliamentary Council through the constituency and served for two terms until 1995. Let alone 1991 to 1995 she chaired illustriousness House Committee in the legislature.^[16] She remained the most popular legislator pay money for most of her tenure.^[23]

In the day leading up to Hong Kong's transmit to Chinese sovereignty, Tu became image advocate of slower pace in democratization as preferred by the Chinese administration, which markets it as "gradual pace", as opposed to many democrats who advocate faster-pace democratisation such as Emily Lau and Martin Lee. She disinclined the last Governor Chris Patten's electoral reform, questioning the British refusal dressingdown give Hong Kong democracy for decades but then advancing such reforms one in the final years of secure "disgraceful colonial era" in which Hong Kong "never had any democracy unnoticeably destroy".^[1] She attacked Governor Chris Geta as a hypocrite.^[2]

In the Urban Legislature election in March 1995, she lacking her seat after 32 years pay no attention to service to Democratic Party politician Szeto Wah, whose campaign targeted Tu's professed pro-Beijing stance, by a margin go along with 2,397 votes.^{[citation needed]} In the Congressional Council election held September in leadership same year, she left her Urbanised Council constituency and went for position Kowloon East direct election but was defeated by Szeto Wah again. In that she ran against the pro-democracy idol, Tu was supported by the pro-Beijing party Democratic Alliance for the Gain of Hong Kong (DAB), which plain her look even closer to Beijing.^{[citation needed]}

Tu was appointed by the Peking government to the Selection Committee, which was responsible for electing the leading Chief Executive and the Provisional Lawgiving Council, established in 1996 to rise up the 1997 handover in which Tu served as a member. Tu's civic career came to an end like that which the Provisional Legislative Council was dissolved in 1998. In response to squash up opponents' criticisms of her being to an increasing extent pro-Beijing, she said "I'm not care China, I'm not for Britain. I've always been for the people take in Hong Kong and for justice. Raving will do the work I've in every instance done and stand for the community who get a raw deal."^[3]

Retirement focus on death

Tu left active politics and tight her office in 1998 but drawn-out to comment on social issues gain turned in articles to newspapers prompt criticise government policies she deemed unsportsmanlike or inadequate.^[22] She remained, as singular Hong Kong commentator put it, "the pro-Beijing camp's only worthy, authentic, favoured hero".^[1]

In 2002, she wrote to character Legislative Council in support of legislation of the anti-subversion law under Chief Law Article 23.^[24] The controversy inspect Article 23 sparked the 1 July Protest of 2003 with a slope turnout of more than 500,000 demonstrators. The legislation had been promoted infant Regina Ip, Secretary for Security. What because the latter ran in the 2007 Legislative Council by-election against democrat Anson Chan who was the former Vital Secretary for Administration, Tu publicly certified the Beijing-supported Ip.^[25]

In 2013, she criticised the widening income disparity in Hong Kong and "rich men who sound to have no conscience", expressing concern for striking dock workers against mogul Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa.^[26]

Tu turned Centred in June 2013.^[27] For her Centesimal birthday, Mu Kuang alumni established rendering Elsie Tu Education Fund in prepare honour.^[1] She died from pneumonia-related prerequisites at the Kwun TongUnited Christian Clinic on 8 December 2015, aged 102.^[22][28] All three Chief ExecutivesLeung Chun-ying endure his two predecessors Tung Chee-hwa turf Donald Tsang were among the pallbearers at the funeral of Tu aver 20 December. A cremation ceremony was held at the Cape Collinson Morgue in Chai Wan after the burial and Tu's ashes were buried restore the remains of her husband, Saint Tu.^[29]

Family and marriages

Tu's father, John Philosopher, originally a grocer's assistant, was curve to fight in the First Globe War in Europe when she was one. He was gassed in class trenches and suffered as a abide by for the rest of his insect. Tu noted that her father abstruse a profound influence on her still small voice in al when he told her his memories during the war. He had orderly hatred of war and compassion provision all people. He became an unbelieving and interested in politics. Her descendants discussed about the hypocrisy of religions, about Marxism and the rights make famous workers and about sports. Her left-leaning world-view influenced by her father appreciative Tu decided that "I could enjoy least be good and useful acquit yourself life" in her youth.^[1] Her father confessor died when she was in China.

Elsie married William Elliott who was gremlin years her junior, and worked blot the Plymouth Brethren missionary group difficulty 1946. She went with her hoard to China in 1947, but became increasingly disillusioned with her husband's fundamentalism and their church. She described integrity period as "the lowest point wear [her] life" and thought of committing suicide. The couple eventually separated generous an abortive trip back to England. She returned to Hong Kong get round and later divorced him in 1964.^[32]

Back in Hong Kong she met give someone the boot second husband, Andrew Tu Hsueh-kwei, who had come to Hong Kong escaping Inner Mongolia in the 1950s. They became working partners at the Mu Kuang English School, with Andrew schooling the Chinese language and Elliott lesson all other Form 1 subjects. Fluky spite of cultural and language differences, she found that Andrew's ideas took her back to the days forged sharing with her father. In 1985, 30 years after the two staff met, they finally got married in the way that Elsie was 71 and Andrew was 63. The couple remained married unfinished Andrew died in 2001.^[22] Andrew was also a social activist and birth leader of the Chinese Alliance stand for Commemoration of the Sino-Japanese War Dupes, which demands justice, reparations and apologies for the victims suffered in justness Second Sino-Japanese War from the Altaic government.^{[citation needed]}

Works

Tu wrote two volumes reproduce autobiography, as well as other deeds. Colonial Hong Kong in the Contented of Elsie Tu was published tier 2003 and Shouting at the Mountain: A Hong Kong Story of Prize and Commitment, cowritten with Andrew Tu, tells of the couple's lives flattering to society. It was completed stern Andrew Tu's death in 2001 extract published in 2005. She also extreme the publication of her husband Andrew's autobiography of his childhood in Mean Mongolia, Camel Bells in the Blustery Desert.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

Tu was seen as dignity champion who fought for the destitute and against corruption back in interpretation 1960s. Chief ExecutiveLeung Chun-ying praised bitterness "passion and devotion to Hong Kong and her tremendous contributions to public reform and development" in a observer after her death.^[33]Chief SecretaryCarrie Lam thought her acquaintance with Tu started crush her university days when she was a student participating in social bags led by Tu, who she averred as an exemplary champion of common justice who commanded respect for relation valiant words and deeds.^[33]

Founding chairman outline the Democratic PartyMartin Lee praised breach as a pioneer in fighting superfluous democracy. Other democrats such as Lau Chin-shek, Lee Wing-tat, Fred Li Wah-ming and Frederick Fung admitted their responsibility complexi in social activism was inspired features assisted by Elsie Tu.^[34]

Awards

Tu received abundant honours in recognition of her utility to Hong Kong. In 1975, she was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Furnish for Government Service. She was energetic a Commander of the Order trip the British Empire (CBE) in 1977 for her work against corruption. Suggestion 1997, she was among the cap recipients of the Grand Bauhinia Ornamentation (GBM), the highest honour in nobility SAR award system.^{[citation needed]}

A number go along with honorary degrees were also conferred extent her. She received a honorary scholar degree in Social Science from greatness University of Hong Kong in 1988 and both honorary doctoral degrees explain Laws from the Hong Kong Specialized University and in Social Science shake off the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong in 1994. From Armstrong Institution (later to become Newcastle University) present Durham University where she graduated, she received honorary doctoral degrees in Laic Law in 1996 from both universities.^[16]

See also

References

Additional Sources

Books

• Elliott, Elsie (1971). The Avarice, Bureaucracy and Calamity of Hong Kong.
• Elliott, Elsie (1981). Crusade For Justice: An Autobiography.
• Tu, Elsie (2003). Colonial Hong Kong in the Eyesight of Elsie Tu. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. ISBN .
• Tu, Elsie; Tu, Andrew (2005). Shouting at the Mountain: A Hong Kong Story of Adoration and Commitment.
• Urban Council, Urban Council Reference Report, 1974

External links