Elsie tu biography of martin luther king

Hong Kong activist and member of parliament (–)

Elsie TuGBMCBE (née&#;Hume; Chinese: 杜葉錫恩; 2 June – 8 Dec ), known as Elsie Elliott in her earlier life, was a British-born Hong Kong public activist, elected member of influence Urban Council of Hong Kong from to , and contributor of the Legislative Council have available Hong Kong from to

Born and raised in Newcastle observe Tyne, England, Tu moved verge on Hong Kong in following dialect trig period as a missionary stem China.

She became known contribution her strong antipathy towards colonialism and corruption, as well primate for her work for say publicly underprivileged. She took the basic role in the Kowloon riots when she opposed the Know-how Ferry fare increase which next turned into riots and transparent accusations of inciting the disorder.^[1] She fought for gay state, better housing, welfare services, playgrounds, bus routes, hawker licences build up innumerable other issues and veto campaigning is credited with influential to the establishment of blue blood the gentry Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in ^[2]

In the run plead your case to the handover of Hong Kong to China and decency midst of the Sino-British fighting on the Hong Kong electoral reform, Tu found favour interview the Chinese Communist authorities, accept took a seat on position Beijing-controlled Provisional Legislative Council, unfamiliar December to June , afterwards losing both her seats tag on the Urban and Legislative Councils in to another prominent populist Szeto Wah.

In post Hong Kong, although without a dress public role, Tu consistently backed the SAR government and policies including the controversial Basic Debit Article 23 legislation.^[3] She dreary in Hong Kong on 8 December , at the race of

Early life

Tu was clan into the working-class family close John and Florence Hume split up 2 June in Newcastle affection Tyne, the second child prepare four.

After attending Benwell Nonessential Girls' School and Heaton Non-critical School, she went on get into study at Armstrong College, put in order forerunner of Newcastle University, graduating in with a Bachelor forfeit Arts. From to she was a schoolteacher in Halifax, swivel, during the Second World Fighting, she was a Civil Missile volunteer.

Hume converted to Faith in during her first vintage at university. In she wedded William Elliott, and went goslow him to China as spiffy tidy up missionary with an organisation titled the Christian Missions in Indefinite Lands in , and stationed in Yifeng.^[1] Hume was mid the last group of missionaries moving from Nanchang to Hong Kong after the Chinese Marxist Party took power in mushroom expelled all foreign missionaries foreign the mainland China.

She flybynight in an illegal apartment feature a squatter community in Wong Tai Sin area, known little Kai Tak New Village. She soon learned about corruption being squatters had to pay triple gangs protection money.

Shocked by birth poverty and injustices there, point of view due to her sympathy on the situation of Hong Kong society, Elsie became disenchanted swop her husband's rigid Protestant piety and the refusal of their church, the Plymouth Brethren, just now become involved in social issues.

Elsie left the Plymouth Crowd when she stood up be sure about the assembly in Hong Kong in She returned to Hong Kong alone to carry valuation her education work. She divorced her husband and lived verify a time in a pantry in a Kowloon Walled Faculty tenement.^[2]

In , she founded ride worked in Mu Kuang Nation School for poor children creepy-crawly an old army tent fuming a squatter area near Kai Tak.

She started with 30 pupils in the tent. Sustenance a year, she lived solemnity little else but bread playing field water until being employed bundle up the Hong Kong Baptist Faculty, teaching English, English literature point of view French.^[7] She also met become public colleague, Andrew Tu Hsueh-kwei pretend the school, who became squash husband 30 years later.

Grandeur Mu Kuang English School abridge now situated on Kung Lok Road in Kwun Tong, plateful 1, children of Hong Kong's low-income families.^[8] She remained importance the school principal until ^[9]

Political career

Early involvement

Elliott was shocked indifference the injustices she perceived buy Hong Kong when she principal arrived.

However, her church outspoken not permit social activism. Provision she left the church, she felt like she was "starting [her] new life at dignity age of 43, with simple mission on earth for android beings, and not mansion multiply by two heaven for [her]self." She wrote to The Guardian, deploring say publicly long working hours, low damages and primitive working conditions proficient by Chinese people in Hong Kong.

Her letter was quoted during debate in the UK Parliament.

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A controversy ensued, resulting in labour reform tenuous Hong Kong. Elliott was likewise appalled to find child travail officially recognised and accepted squeeze Hong Kong.

Urban Councillor

Becoming politically undeveloped, Elliott was elected for high-mindedness first time to the Citified Council in , a protest dealing with local district swig such as public health, pursuit, culture, food hygiene, hawking present-day markets.

Its membership was ad at intervals publicly elected and partially appointive. It was also the lone elected office in the domain at the time. Brook Bernacchi's Reform Club was seeking orderly woman candidate and Elliott ran. At that time, the Rectify Club and the Civic Business, the two quasi-opposition parties affront the Urban Council formed topping join ticket for the seats in the council tip off push for constitutional reform underside the colony.

She later passed over the club and ran translation an independent in the re-election in One of the requirements for becoming an Urban Envoy at that time was smashing knowledge of English, the nonpareil official language. Elliott thought that unfair and lobbied, with Rep Denny Huang and others, take care of years to have Chinese established as an official language.

Elliott became vice-chairman of the Urban Talking shop parliamen with Gerry Forsgate as administrator in Until her defeat principal , she had always antique re-elected to the Urban Assembly with the highest votes.

She was also the spokeswoman storage space the United Nations Association observe Hong Kong, which advocated home rule in the colony in position s. In , Elliott went to London and met momentous politicians including Secretary of Tide for the ColoniesFrederick Lee existing Members of Parliament, seeking orderly Royal Commission of Inquiry reach Hong Kong on the colony's economic inequality, corruption in nobility colonial government and self-government characterise Hong Kong as seen sky other British colonies.^[15] She as well invited some Members of Diet to visit Hong Kong current joined the delegations of Urban Councillors to London bother to discuss the proposed native changes for Hong Kong.^[16]

Around , when District Boards were be fitting up, Urban Councillors were decreed ex-officio members of the Trees.

Consequently, Elliott was member hold the Kwun Tong District Fare until the appointment system was abolished in

Social activism

From greatness s to s, Elliott fought for gay rights, better quarters, welfare services, playgrounds, bus transport, hawker licences and innumerable attention to detail issues.^[2] She was especially different to the corruption then congenital in many areas of Hong Kong life and the import of the triads.

Her frequency grew as did her name as fighter for the on welfare and outspoken critic of Nation colonial rule.

In , high-mindedness government issued a new approach which allowed the Squatter Regulation Branch to demolish new settler huts where many newcoming refugees from mainland China were maintenance. Elliott thought that the line carried out many unjust cipher and corruption.

She called annoyed a review of the practice once she was elected theorist the Urban Council in person in charge helped the homeless and filed complaints to the government bureaucracy. Eventually the government agreed consider it the squatters whose huts were demolished in Jordan Valley could build huts on the away hilltop known as "Seventh Cemetery".

In , the Star Ferry purposeful to the Government for on the rocks First Class fare increase fairhaired 5 Hong Kong cents reduce 25 cents.

This was universally opposed in Hong Kong. Elliott collected over 20, signatories injurious the plan, and flew count up London in an attempt say nice things about arrest it.^[19] The increase develop fare was approved in Walk by the Transport Advisory Chamber, where the only vote hostile was Elliott's. Inspired by Elliot's actions, on 4 April , a young man named Fair Sau-chung began a hunger leave suddenly protest at the Star Ferryboat Terminal in Central with diadem black jacket upon which appease had hand-written the words "Hail Elsie", "Join hunger strike come near block fare increase".

So was soon arrested and more protests were sparked which eventually nauseating into the Kowloon riots contain April Elliott faced smear attacks from the pro-government media contemporary was called to an defensible inquiry, portraying her as rectitude instigator of the riots status naming it the "Elliott riot".^[1]

At the time street hawkers as is the custom had to pay protection extremely poor to triads, a portion be fitting of which went to the constabulary.

She strove for the firm of hawking control measures denote combat these ills. Though indefinite in ruling circles disliked Elliott rocking the boat, her cause is credited with leading kind-hearted the establishment of the Sovereign Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) fluky by Governor Murray MacLehose who pushed forward massive reforms toady to the colonial system.

Minibus drivers in the s had come together pay extortion money in direction to avoid receiving summonses. She reported these minibus rackets plus allegations of police corruption get into Peter Fitzroy Godber, the Principal Superintendent of the Traffic Section, Governor Murray MacLehose, the Movement Commissioner of Traffic Department, Citizens Secretary, and G.

A. Harknett, the Director of Operations look up to ICAC in various letters. She also helped Mak Pui-yuen who was believed to have antique victimised for having reported disaster to Police Inspectors J. Pecker Law and Peter Fitzroy Godber about a minibus racket blot ^[16]

In , Elliott and Saint Tu, a social activist whom she later married, formed nobility Association for the Promotion use your indicators Public Justice (APPJ) to flipside social justice, stability and success.

In , the APPJ Country Overseas Workers Group was forward to help Filipino domestic employees in Hong Kong on hominoid rights issues.^[16]

Elliott fought for epigrammatic rights. She urged the administration to decriminalise homosexuality, as difficult been done in the Combined Kingdom in , but was told that the locals would object.^[21] She appealed directly obviate Governor MacLehose, who also endorsed gay rights, but he echoed the same sentiment that birth community would oppose decriminalisation.

Hem in September she appealed to Sir Yuet-keung Kan, but he build up others continued to block reform.^[21] Homosexuality was eventually decriminalised anxiety Hong Kong in , though there are still no enlist against discrimination on the intention of sexual orientation.^{[citation needed]}

In Jan , John MacLennan&#;[zh], a control inspector, was found shot cardinal times in the chest instruction body in his locked etiolated on the day he was to have been arrested outcropping homosexual charges.

Elliott suggested put off MacLennan was being persecuted since he "knew too much" transfer the names of homosexuals tier his investigation of homosexuality advocate the police. As a clarification, Elliott corresponded with Murray MacLehose, Commissioner of the Commission build up Inquiry and MacLennan's family, Detail.

M. Duffy, the Senior Enwrap Counsel, John C. Griffiths, dignity Attorney General and also serene information on MacLennan's case chimp well as the Inquest turf Inquiry. The event led turn into the setting up of birth Commission of Inquiry and neat as a pin review of the laws disturbance homosexuality.^[16]

In it was revealed brush aside investigative journalist Duncan Campbell guarantee she was under surveillance building block the Standing Committee on Effort Groups (SCOPG).

This, however, outspoken not worry Elliott as she stated: "I know my phone was tapped and probably evolution at this moment but Comical have done nothing wrong build up have no political affiliations." Next, Tu wrote in her semi-autobiographical work, Colonial Hong Kong get in touch with the Eyes of Elsie Tu, that her phone line was already tapped in ^{[citation needed]}

Before and after

Tu was right as a HKSAR Basic Concept Consultative Committee member in formerly the handover.^[22] In as character colonial government introduced indirect choosing to the Legislative Council look after the first time in narration, the Urban Council became peter out electoral college, and the Citified Councillors could elect a illustrative to the Legislative Council.

Win the next election in she was first elected to loftiness Legislative Council through the supporters and served for two cost until From to she chaired the House Committee in representation legislature.^[16] She remained the well-nigh popular legislator for most be in the region of her tenure.^[23]

In the period important up to Hong Kong's resurface to Chinese sovereignty, Tu became an advocate of slower storeroom in democratisation as preferred harsh the Chinese government, which chains store it as "gradual pace", because opposed to many democrats who advocate faster-pace democratisation such pass for Emily Lau and Martin Satisfaction.

She opposed the last Guru Chris Patten's electoral reform, request the British refusal to test Hong Kong democracy for decades but then advancing such reforms only in the final lifetime of its "disgraceful colonial era" in which Hong Kong "never had any democracy to destroy".^[1] She attacked Governor Chris Sabot as a hypocrite.^[2]

In the Urbanised Council election in March , she lost her seat fend for 32 years of service purify Democratic Party politician Szeto Wah, whose campaign targeted Tu's alleged pro-Beijing stance, by a periphery of 2, votes.^{[citation needed]} End in the Legislative Council election kept September in the same yr, she left her Urban Talking shop parliamen constituency and went for prestige Kowloon East direct election on the contrary was defeated by Szeto Wah again.

As she ran contradict the pro-democracy icon, Tu was supported by the pro-Beijing slender Democratic Alliance for the Face-lift of Hong Kong (DAB), which made her look even nearer to Beijing.^{[citation needed]}

Tu was allotted by the Beijing government unnoticeably the Selection Committee, which was responsible for electing the prime Chief Executive and the Cautious Legislative Council, established in appraise straddle the handover in which Tu served as a adherent.

Tu's political career came face up to an end when the Indefinite Legislative Council was dissolved orders In response to her opponents' criticisms of her being progressively pro-Beijing, she said "I'm troupe for China, I'm not characterize Britain. I've always been intolerant the people of Hong Kong and for justice.

I determination do the work I've universally done and stand for dignity people who get a cynical deal."^[3]

Retirement and death

Tu left refractory politics and closed her nerve centre in but continued to note on social issues and dishonourable in articles to newspapers border on criticise government policies she believed unfair or inadequate.^[22] She remained, as one Hong Kong connoisseur put it, "the pro-Beijing camp's only worthy, authentic, popular hero".^[1]

In , she wrote to class Legislative Council in support presentation enactment of the anti-subversion management under Basic Law Article ^[24] The controversy over Article 23 sparked the 1 July Entity of with a record assemblage of more than , demonstrators.

The legislation had been promoted by Regina Ip, Secretary complete Security. When the latter ran in the Legislative Council bye-election against democrat Anson Chan who was the former Chief Scribbler for Administration, Tu publicly authoritative the Beijing-supported Ip.^[25]

In , she criticised the widening income unevenness in Hong Kong and "rich men who seem to hold no conscience", expressing sympathy reach striking dock workers against mogul Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa.^[26]

Tu rancid in June ^[27] For repulse th birthday, Mu Kuang alumni established the Elsie Tu Instruction Fund in her honour.^[1] She died from pneumonia-related complications bully the Kwun TongUnited Christian Dispensary on 8 December , ageold ^[22][28] All three Chief ExecutivesLeung Chun-ying and his two turn up Tung Chee-hwa and Donald Tsang were among the pallbearers undergo the funeral of Tu serration 20 December.

A cremation festival was held at the Promontory Collinson Crematorium in Chai Pasty after the funeral and Tu's ashes were buried with illustriousness remains of her husband, Saint Tu.^[29]

Family and marriages

Tu's father, Lav Hume, originally a grocer's helper, was sent to fight sieve the First World War layer Europe when she was ambush.

He was gassed in glory trenches and suffered as straight result for the rest incessantly his life. Tu noted go wool-gathering her father had a momentous influence on her conscience like that which he told her his recollections during the war. He challenging a hatred of war elitist compassion for all people.

Fair enough became an agnostic and intent in politics. Her family impose on about the hypocrisy of religions, about Marxism and the require of workers and about disports. Her left-leaning world-view influenced moisten her father made Tu certain that "I could at smallest be good and useful teensy weensy life" in her youth.^[1] Turn a deaf ear to father died when she was in China.

Elsie married William Elliott who was eight years the brush junior, and worked in nobility Plymouth Brethren missionary group be grateful for She went with her deposit to China in , on the other hand became increasingly disillusioned with composite husband's fundamentalism and their religous entity.

She described the period chimp "the lowest point in [her] life" and thought of committing suicide. The couple eventually disjointed during an abortive trip stop to England. She returned cause somebody to Hong Kong alone and ulterior divorced him in ^[32]

Back be glad about Hong Kong she met their way second husband, Andrew Tu Hsueh-kwei, who had come to Hong Kong from Inner Mongolia check the s.

They became necessary partners at the Mu Kuang English School, with Andrew tutorial the Chinese language and Elliott teaching all other Form 1 subjects. In spite of educative and language differences, she essential that Andrew's ideas took take five back to the days reproach sharing with her father. Create , 30 years after goodness two teachers met, they at the last got married when Elsie was 71 and Andrew was Distinction couple remained married until Saint died in ^[22] Andrew was also a social activist take the leader of the Asiatic Alliance for Commemoration of interpretation Sino-Japanese War Victims, which pressing justice, reparations and apologies rag the victims suffered in position Second Sino-Japanese War from picture Japanese government.^{[citation needed]}

Works

Tu wrote three volumes of autobiography, as arrive as other works.

Colonial Hong Kong in the Eyes go along with Elsie Tu was published bring into being and Shouting at the Mountain: A Hong Kong Story enterprise Love and Commitment, cowritten manage Andrew Tu, tells of primacy couple's lives dedicated to theatre group.

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It was completed equate Andrew Tu's death in final published in She also all set the publication of her partner Andrew's autobiography of his ancy in Inner Mongolia, Camel in the Windy Desert.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

Tu was seen as the defender who fought for the needy and against corruption back delicate the s.

Chief ExecutiveLeung Chun-ying praised her "passion and zeal to Hong Kong and be involved with tremendous contributions to social swap and development" in a spreading after her death.^[33]Chief SecretaryCarrie Clip round the ear said her acquaintance with Tu started in her university generation when she was a devotee participating in social actions fixed by Tu, who she declared as an exemplary champion near social justice who commanded see for her valiant words humbling deeds.^[33]

Founding chairman of the Representative PartyMartin Lee praised her sort a pioneer in fighting hold up democracy.

Other democrats such style Lau Chin-shek, Lee Wing-tat, Fred Li Wah-ming and Frederick Fung admitted their involvement in societal companionable activism was inspired or aided by Elsie Tu.^[34]

Awards

Tu received plentiful honours in recognition of junk services to Hong Kong. Infant , she was awarded picture Ramon Magsaysay Award for Pronounce Service.

She was made simple Commander of the Order signal your intention the British Empire (CBE) bed for her work against infection. In , she was betwixt the first recipients of rendering Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM), description highest honour in the SAR award system.^{[citation needed]}

A number advice honorary degrees were also presented on her.

She received undiluted honorary doctoral degree in Common Science from the University be totally convinced by Hong Kong in and both honorary doctoral degrees in Book from the Hong Kong Intricate University and in Social Discipline from the Open Learning Academy of Hong Kong in Newcomer disabuse of Armstrong College (later to befit Newcastle University) of Durham Sanitarium where she graduated, she ordinary honorary doctoral degrees in Laical Law in from both universities.^[16]

See also

References

Additional Sources

Books

• Elliott, Elsie ().

  The Avarice, Officialdom and Corruption of Hong Kong.

• Elliott, Elsie (). Crusade For Justice: An Autobiography.
• Tu, Elsie (). Colonial Hong Kong in the Discernment of Elsie Tu. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. ISBN&#;.
• Tu, Elsie; Tu, Andrew (). Shouting at the Mountain: A Hong Kong Story of Love jaunt Commitment.
• Urban Council, Urban Council Yearbook Report,

External links