Organiser of July 1 march hailed as a hero for her effort
Hong Kong (AsiaNews/SCMP) Veteran activist Jackie Hung Ling-yu, an organiser of the July 1 demonstrations last year and this year, has been named an "Asian Hero" by Time magazine among 20 candidates.
Praise yesterday poured in from friends and colleagues, who said the honour reflected international recognition of both her fight for social justice and the rising popular desire for greater democracy.
However, Ms Hung said yesterday: "I am not a heroine. The true heroes are the people of Hong Kong, who turned out for the march on July 1 regardless of the heat and pressure.
"I am just a servant - a servant of God and the people," the 35-year-old Catholic said.
"They have chosen me because the international community recognised Hong Kong people wanted universal suffrage as early as possible - that is by 2007."
Ms Hung, described by the magazine as "the face of a new, politically vibrant Hong Kong", is the only Hongkonger among 20 figures in Asia chosen by the Asian edition of the US magazine for an annual special issue published today. After an internet poll, the final winner was Myanbar democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
However, Catholic Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, who has closely collaborated with Ms Hung over social campaigns such as the fight for mainlanders' right of abode, and universal suffrage, said he admired her courage.
"Jackie is very courageous and stays true to her ideals. She dares to speak out under pressure and also truthfully helps the underprivileged. She spends her life serving others as demanded by the faith. But despite her tough looks, she is actually very gentle and fragile."
Ms Hung's husband and fellow activist Andrew To Kwan-hang, who met her in 1991 when they were both student leaders in Hong Kong, said: "I love her for being a cheerful and approachable person. The honour is not for her alone, she only symbolises all those people who marched."
The couple married in 1996.
She worked with unionist legislator Lee Cheuk-yan as an assistant between 1994 and 1998. The activist joined the Catholic diocese's Justice and Peace Commission in 1999, where she made a name for championing rights for mainland abode seekers.
Ms Hung played a leading role in organising the July 1 marches last year and this year as spokeswoman for the Civil Human Rights Front. About half a million people are estimated to have turned out for each event.
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