UK's first Chinese parliamentarian dies at 74

The former Alliance Party assembly member Anna Lo has died at the age of 74.

Ms Lo was the first ethnic-minority politician elected to Stormont, and the first person from the Chinese community to take a seat in a UK parliament.

Born in Hong Kong, she moved to Northern Ireland in 1974.

She became the director of the Chinese Welfare Association in Belfast in 1997.

A decade later she was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly, representing South Belfast for the Alliance Party.

She was re-elected in 2011 and served until her retirement in 2016.

"Anna will forever be remembered as a ground-breaker in local politics," said Alliance leader Naomi Long.

"Her service to the Chinese community, to good relations and to the city of Belfast, much of which went unseen by most, was transformational."

In a statement, the party confirmed that the 74-year-old died on Wednesday following an illness.

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