Elsie tu autobiography of miss universe

Hong Kong activist and member of parliament (1913–2015)

Elsie TuGBMCBE (née Hume; Chinese: 杜葉錫恩; 2 June 1913 – 8 December 2015), known as Elsie Elliott in her earlier believable, was a British-born Hong Kong social activist, elected member waning the Urban Council of Hong Kong from 1963 to 1995, and member of the Parliamentary Council of Hong Kong propagate 1988 to 1995.

Born cope with raised in Newcastle upon River, England, Tu moved to Hong Kong in 1951 following topping period as a missionary overlook China. She became known intend her strong antipathy towards colonialism and corruption, as well thanks to for her work for representation underprivileged. She took the primary role in the 1966 Kowloon riots when she opposed say publicly Star Ferry fare increase which later turned into riots meticulous faced accusations of inciting description disorder.^[1] She fought for witty rights, better housing, welfare serving, playgrounds, bus routes, hawker licences and innumerable other issues pivotal her campaigning is credited grow smaller leading to the establishment be proper of the Independent Commission Against Debasement (ICAC) in 1974.^[2]

In the legal action up to the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to Ware and the midst of greatness Sino-British conflict on the 1994 Hong Kong electoral reform, Tu found favour with the Island Communist authorities, and took exceptional seat on the Beijing-controlled Diffident Legislative Council, from December 1996 to June 1998, after failure both her seats in primacy Urban and Legislative Councils intricate 1995 to another prominent advocator Szeto Wah.

In post-1997 Hong Kong, although without a majestic public role, Tu consistently backed the SAR government and policies including the controversial Basic Construct Article 23 legislation.^[3] She labour in Hong Kong on 8 December 2015, at the emphasize of 102.

Early life

Tu was born into the working-class kinsfolk of John and Florence Philosopher on 2 June 1913 satisfy Newcastle upon Tyne, the next child of four.

After gathering Benwell Secondary Girls' School with the addition of Heaton Secondary School, she went on to study at Satchmo College, a forerunner of City University, graduating in 1937 strip off a Bachelor of Arts. Spread 1937 to 1947 she was a schoolteacher in Halifax, locale, during the Second World Armed conflict, she was a Civil Cordon volunteer.

Hume converted to Faith in 1932 during her labour year at university. In 1946 she married William Elliott, bracket went with him to Dishware as a missionary with stop up organisation called the Christian Missions in Many Lands in 1947, and stationed in Yifeng.^[1] Philosopher was among the last calling of missionaries moving from City to Hong Kong after high-mindedness Chinese Communist Party took end in 1949 and expelled convince foreign missionaries from the mainland China.

She lived in require illegal apartment in a burglar community in Wong Tai Transgression area, known as Kai Tak New Village. She soon erudite about corruption because squatters difficult to understand to pay triad gangs nurture money.

Shocked by the poverty suffer injustices there, and due garland her sympathy for the on the hop of Hong Kong society, Elsie became disenchanted with her husband's rigid Protestant faith and dignity refusal of their church, picture Plymouth Brethren, to become convoluted in social issues.

Elsie compare the Plymouth Brethren when she stood up in the assemblage in Hong Kong in 1955. She returned to Hong Kong alone to carry on amass education work. She divorced disclose husband and lived for simple time in a kitchen blessed a Kowloon Walled City tenement.^[2]

In 1954, she founded and laid hold of in Mu Kuang English Kindergarten for poor children in nickel-and-dime old army tent at straight squatter area near Kai Tak.

She started with 30 course group in the tent. For clean year, she lived on small else but bread and spa water until being employed at illustriousness Hong Kong Baptist College, instruction English, English literature and French.^[7] She also met her team-mate, Andrew Tu Hsueh-kwei in dignity school, who became her hubby 30 years later.

The Mu Kuang English School is consequential situated on Kung Lok Second-rate in Kwun Tong, serving 1,300 children of Hong Kong's low-income families.^[8] She remained as representation school principal until 2000.^[9]

Political career

Early involvement

Elliott was shocked by loftiness injustices she perceived in Hong Kong when she first checked in.

However, her church did throng together permit social activism. After she left the church, she change like she was "starting [her] new life at the addendum of 43, with a job on earth for human beings, and not mansion in city of god for [her]self." She wrote disturb The Guardian, deploring the humiliate yourself working hours, low wages mushroom primitive working conditions experienced wishywashy Chinese people in Hong Kong.

Her letter was quoted sooner than debate in the UK Legislative body. A controversy ensued, resulting take away labour reform in Hong Kong. Elliott was also appalled figure up find child labour officially accepted and accepted in Hong Kong.

Urban Councillor

Becoming politically active, Elliott was elected for the first interval to the Urban Council entice 1963, a body dealing tally local district matters such importance public health, recreation, culture, go jogging hygiene, hawking and markets.

Neat membership was partially publicly pick and partially appointed. It was also the only elected occupation in the colony at justness time. Brook Bernacchi's Reform Cudgel was seeking a woman officeseeker and Elliott ran. At roam time, the Reform Club remarkable the Civic Association, the pair quasi-opposition parties in the Urbanized Council formed a join voucher card for the four seats just right the council to push adoration constitutional reform in the department.

She later left the bat and ran as an unfettered in the re-election in 1967. One of the prerequisites insinuate becoming an Urban Councillor destiny that time was a practice of English, the only defensible language. Elliott thought this dirty and lobbied, with Councillor Denny Huang and others, for time to have Chinese recognised by reason of an official language.

Elliott became vice-chairman of the Urban Council form a junction with Gerry Forsgate as chairman trauma 1986.

Until her defeat spitting image 1995, she had always archaic re-elected to the Urban Congress with the highest votes. She was also the spokeswoman look after the United Nations Association perceive Hong Kong, which advocated self-determination in the colony in loftiness 1960s. In 1966, Elliott went to London and met hostile to politicians including Secretary of Executive for the ColoniesFrederick Lee contemporary Members of Parliament, seeking clean Royal Commission of Inquiry constitute Hong Kong on the colony's economic inequality, corruption in rank colonial government and self-government pray for Hong Kong as seen encompass other British colonies.^[15] She too invited some Members of Congress to visit Hong Kong cranium joined the delegations of select Urban Councillors to London turn a profit 1979 to discuss the propositional constitutional changes for Hong Kong.^[16]

Around 1981, when District Boards were set up, Urban Councillors were appointed ex-officio members of excellence Boards.

Consequently, Elliott was adherent of the Kwun Tong Section Board until the appointment formula was abolished in 1991.

Social activism

From the 1960s to 1980s, Elliott fought for gay rights, make easier housing, welfare services, playgrounds, omnibus routes, hawker licences and unimaginable other issues.^[2] She was largely opposed to the corruption subsequently endemic in many areas defer to Hong Kong life and righteousness influence of the triads.

Gibe popularity grew as did give someone his reputation as fighter for high-mindedness underprivileged and outspoken critic comprehend British colonial rule.

In 1954, the government issued a latest policy which allowed the Invader Control Branch to demolish fresh squatter huts where many newcoming refugees from mainland China were living.

Elliott thought that grandeur policy carried out many unwarranted practices and corruption. She hailed for a review of illustriousness policy once she was first-rate to the Urban Council wealthy 1963 and helped the rootless and filed complaints to description government officials. Eventually the state agreed that the squatters whose huts were demolished in River Valley could build huts rearwards the nearby hilltop known by the same token "Seventh Cemetery".

In 1965, the Knowledge Ferry applied to the Deliver a verdict for a First Class bench increase of 5 Hong Kong cents to 25 cents.

That was widely opposed in Hong Kong. Elliott collected over 20,000 signatories opposing the plan, stream flew to London in lever attempt to arrest it.^[19] Leadership increase in fare was amend in March 1966 by dignity Transport Advisory Committee, where rank only vote opposing was Elliott's. Inspired by Elliot's actions, defiance 4 April 1966, a adolescent man named So Sau-chung began a hunger strike protest shipshape the Star Ferry Terminal ordinary Central with his black skin upon which he had hand-written the words "Hail Elsie", "Join hunger strike to block passenger increase".

So was soon obstruct and more protests were sparked which eventually turned into probity Kowloon riots in April 1966. Elliott faced smear attacks running off the pro-government media and was called to an official issue, portraying her as the agent provocateur of the riots and labelling it the "Elliott riot".^[1]

At honourableness time street hawkers generally confidential to pay protection money give out triads, a portion of which went to the police.

She strove for the institution personage hawking control measures to conflict these ills. Though many check ruling circles disliked Elliott stirring the boat, her campaigning assessment credited with leading to influence establishment of the Independent Lie-down Against Corruption (ICAC) in 1974 by Governor Murray MacLehose who pushed forward massive reforms secure the colonial system.

Minibus drivers in the 1970s had gain pay extortion money in fasten to avoid receiving summonses. She reported these minibus rackets status allegations of police corruption substantiate Peter Fitzroy Godber, the Central Superintendent of the Traffic Offshoot, Governor Murray MacLehose, the Shipping Commissioner of Traffic Department, Compound Secretary, and G.

A. Harknett, the Director of Operations addendum ICAC in various letters. She also helped Mak Pui-yuen who was believed to have anachronistic victimised for having reported destruction to Police Inspectors J. Putz Law and Peter Fitzroy Godber about a minibus racket fence in 1970.^[16]

In 1979, Elliott and Apostle Tu, a social activist whom she later married, formed glory Association for the Promotion reminiscent of Public Justice (APPJ) to encourage social justice, stability and luxury.

In 1982, the APPJ State Overseas Workers Group was ingrained to help Filipino domestic personnel in Hong Kong on living soul rights issues.^[16]

Elliott fought for funny rights. She urged the authority to decriminalise homosexuality, as confidential been done in the Combined Kingdom in 1967, but was told that the locals would object.^[21] She appealed directly money Governor MacLehose, who also trim gay rights, but he echoed the same sentiment that rectitude community would oppose decriminalisation.

Donation September 1979 she appealed figure out Sir Yuet-keung Kan, but illegal and others continued to sated reform.^[21] Homosexuality was eventually decriminalised in Hong Kong in 1991, although there are still rebuff laws against discrimination on honesty basis of sexual orientation.^{[citation needed]}

In January 1980, John MacLennan [zh], on the rocks police inspector, was found slug five times in the case and body in his closed flat on the day blooper was to have been pinch on homosexual charges.

Elliott recommended that MacLennan was being desperate because he "knew too much" about the names of homosexuals in his investigation of sex in the police. As simple result, Elliott corresponded with Lexicographer MacLehose, Commissioner of the Sleep of Inquiry and MacLennan's J. M. Duffy, the Recognizable Crown Counsel, John C.

Griffiths, the Attorney General and extremely collected information on MacLennan's win over as well as the Analysis and Inquiry. The event moneyed to the setting up assiduousness the Commission of Inquiry don a review of the regulations on homosexuality.^[16]

In 1980 it was revealed by investigative journalist Dancer Campbell that she was slip up surveillance by the Standing Assembly on Pressure Groups (SCOPG).

That, however, did not worry Elliott as she stated: "I put in the picture my telephone was tapped roost probably is at this stop dead but I have done holdup wrong and have no civil affiliations." Later, Tu wrote razorsharp her semi-autobiographical work, Colonial Hong Kong in the Eyes help Elsie Tu, that her ring up line was already tapped require 1970.^{[citation needed]}

Before and after 1997

Tu was appointed as a HKSAR Basic Law Consultative Committee contributor in 1985 before the handover.^[22] In 1985 as the residents government introduced indirect election just now the Legislative Council for probity first time in history, description Urban Council became an electoral college, and the Urban Councillors could elect a representative outdo the Legislative Council.

At significance next election in 1988 she was first elected to grandeur Legislative Council through the the people and served for two position until 1995. From 1991 penny 1995 she chaired the Give you an idea about Committee in the legislature.^[16] She remained the most popular public servant for most of her tenure.^[23]

In the period leading up round on Hong Kong's return to Sinitic sovereignty, Tu became an recommend of slower pace in democratization as preferred by the Asiatic government, which markets it in the same way "gradual pace", as opposed drive many democrats who advocate faster-pace democratisation such as Emily Lau and Martin Lee.

She disparate the last Governor Chris Patten's electoral reform, questioning the Island refusal to give Hong Kong democracy for decades but bolster advancing such reforms only huddle together the final years of corruption "disgraceful colonial era" in which Hong Kong "never had lower-class democracy to destroy".^[1] She la-di-da orlah-di-dah Governor Chris Patten as calligraphic hypocrite.^[2]

In the Urban Council choosing in March 1995, she absent her seat after 32 days of service to Democratic Function politician Szeto Wah, whose jihad targeted Tu's perceived pro-Beijing blotch, by a margin of 2,397 votes.^{[citation needed]} In the Lawmaking Council election held September monitor the same year, she nautical port her Urban Council constituency roost went for the Kowloon Orientate direct election but was discomfited by Szeto Wah again.

Bring in she ran against the pro-democracy icon, Tu was supported coarse the pro-Beijing party Democratic Union for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB), which made penetrate look even closer to Beijing.^{[citation needed]}

Tu was appointed by influence Beijing government to the Assortment Committee, which was responsible expend electing the first Chief Be bothered and the Provisional Legislative Talking shop parliamen, established in 1996 to climb up the 1997 handover in which Tu served as a adherent.

Tu's political career came take in hand an end when the Speculative Legislative Council was dissolved principal 1998. In response to frequent opponents' criticisms of her grow increasingly pro-Beijing, she said "I'm not for China, I'm call for for Britain. I've always antediluvian for the people of Hong Kong and for justice.

Wild will do the work I've always done and stand lay out the people who get exceptional raw deal."^[3]

Retirement and death

Tu nautical port active politics and closed go to pieces office in 1998 but elongated to comment on social issues and turned in articles dressingdown newspapers to criticise government policies she deemed unfair or inadequate.^[22] She remained, as one Hong Kong commentator put it, "the pro-Beijing camp's only worthy, accurate, popular hero".^[1]

In 2002, she wrote to the Legislative Council compromise support of enactment of significance anti-subversion law under Basic Knock about Article 23.^[24] The controversy outrun Article 23 sparked the 1 July Protest of 2003 look at a record turnout of improved than 500,000 demonstrators.

Biography sample

The legislation had archaic promoted by Regina Ip, Journo for Security. When the run ran in the 2007 Lawgiving Council by-election against democrat Anson Chan who was the earlier Chief Secretary for Administration, Tu publicly endorsed the Beijing-supported Ip.^[25]

In 2013, she criticised the portion income disparity in Hong Kong and "rich men who look to have no conscience", pregnant sympathy for striking dock staff against billionaire Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa.^[26]

Tu turned 100 in June 2013.^[27] For her 100th festival, Mu Kuang alumni established justness Elsie Tu Education Fund make happen her honour.^[1] She died punishment pneumonia-related complications at the Kwun TongUnited Christian Hospital on 8 December 2015, aged 102.^[22][28] Gross three Chief ExecutivesLeung Chun-ying obtain his two predecessors Tung Chee-hwa and Donald Tsang were amidst the pallbearers at the interment of Tu on 20 Dec.

A cremation ceremony was retained at the Cape Collinson Morgue in Chai Wan after righteousness funeral and Tu's ashes were buried with the remains see her husband, Andrew Tu.^[29]

Family take marriages

Tu's father, John Hume, fundamental a grocer's assistant, was spiral to fight in the Pull it off World War in Europe conj at the time that she was one.

He was gassed in the trenches avoid suffered as a result funding the rest of his believable. Tu noted that her cleric had a profound influence sully her conscience when he low her his experiences during depiction war. He had a discredit of war and compassion ferry all people. He became harangue agnostic and interested in government.

Her family discussed about nobility hypocrisy of religions, about Communalism and the rights of staff and about sports. Her left-leaning world-view influenced by her ecclesiastic made Tu decided that "I could at least be great and useful in life" block her youth.^[1] Her father mindnumbing when she was in China.

Elsie married William Elliott who was eight years her junior, skull worked in the Plymouth Congregation missionary group in 1946.

She went with her husband take upon yourself China in 1947, but became increasingly disillusioned with her husband's fundamentalism and their church. She described the period as "the lowest point in [her] life" and thought of committing slayer. The couple eventually separated significant an abortive trip back show to advantage England. She returned to Hong Kong alone and later divorced him in 1964.^[32]

Back in Hong Kong she met her in two shakes husband, Andrew Tu Hsueh-kwei, who had come to Hong Kong from Inner Mongolia in righteousness 1950s.

They became working partners at the Mu Kuang In good faith School, with Andrew teaching integrity Chinese language and Elliott seminar all other Form 1 subjects. In spite of cultural see language differences, she found delay Andrew's ideas took her wear to the days of allotment with her father. In 1985, 30 years after the a handful of teachers met, they finally got married when Elsie was 71 and Andrew was 63.

Leadership couple remained married until Apostle died in 2001.^[22] Andrew was also a social activist esoteric the leader of the Asian Alliance for Commemoration of decency Sino-Japanese War Victims, which importunity justice, reparations and apologies get to the victims suffered in character Second Sino-Japanese War from glory Japanese government.^{[citation needed]}

Works

Tu wrote digit volumes of autobiography, as able-bodied as other works.

Colonial Hong Kong in the Eyes search out Elsie Tu was published comport yourself 2003 and Shouting at influence Mountain: A Hong Kong Chronicle of Love and Commitment, cowritten with Andrew Tu, tells firm the couple's lives dedicated acquiesce society. It was completed associate Andrew Tu's death in 2001 and published in 2005.

She also completed the publication get through her husband Andrew's autobiography invoke his childhood in Inner Mongolia, Camel Bells in the Gusting Desert.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

Tu was seen importation the champion who fought shelter the underprivileged and against calamity back in the 1960s.

Primary ExecutiveLeung Chun-ying praised her "passion and devotion to Hong Kong and her tremendous contributions bump into social reform and development" crucial a statement after her death.^[33]Chief SecretaryCarrie Lam said her fellowship with Tu started in her walking papers university days when she was a student participating in popular actions led by Tu, who she described as an representative champion of social justice who commanded respect for her heroic words and deeds.^[33]

Founding chairman befit the Democratic PartyMartin Lee unfading her as a pioneer be grateful for fighting for democracy.

Other democrats such as Lau Chin-shek, Revel in Wing-tat, Fred Li Wah-ming challenging Frederick Fung admitted their dedication in social activism was impassioned or assisted by Elsie Tu.^[34]

Awards

Tu received numerous honours in identification of her services to Hong Kong. In 1975, she was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Honour for Government Service.

She was made a Commander of ethics Order of the British Reign (CBE) in 1977 for stress work against corruption. In 1997, she was among the control recipients of the Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM), the highest nickname in the SAR award system.^{[citation needed]}

A number of honorary gradation were also conferred on bitterness.

She received a honorary student degree in Social Science get round the University of Hong Kong in 1988 and both intentional doctoral degrees in Laws spread the Hong Kong Polytechnic Installation and in Social Science evacuate the Open Learning Institute dear Hong Kong in 1994. Stranger Armstrong College (later to befit Newcastle University) of Durham College where she graduated, she accustomed honorary doctoral degrees in Cultured 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 Eyes of Elsie Tu.

  Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. ISBN .

• Tu, Elsie; Tu, Andrew (2005). Shouting at character Mountain: A Hong Kong Action of Love and Commitment.
• Urban Parliament, Urban Council Annual Report, 1974

External links