The Chinese Lib Dems today organised a visit to Westminster with reception hosted by Simon Hughes MP in honour of Anna Lo (Alliance Party) of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Following this there was a tour of City Hall courtesy of Mike Tuffrey, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the GLA, and an afternoon visit to Camden Chinese Community Centre and Chinese National Healthy Living Centre.
Last June, we took part in the Dragon Boat Race organised by London Chinatown Lions Club and competed with 43 other boats, coming in the top 10 and within a few seconds of being in the final 3! We raced as the Democracy Dragons -- Min Zhu Loong (民主龙), with our Chair Cllr Linda Chung, as the drummer setting the pace for our 16 rowers.
For the third year running, the Chinese Lib Dems set up a stall at the annual Dragon Boat Race at the Royal Albert Docks and joined in the festivities to raise funds for various Chinese community charities. It was also an opportunity to fly the Lib Dem flag and race as the 'Democracy Dragons' alongside about 40 other boats including teams from the Chinese Embassy, Hongkong University Alumni and the British Chinese Group. At the drums this year was Farid Ahmed, Parliamentary Candidate for Walthamstowe who set the pace for the 16 rowers. Lib Dem Cllr Faruque Ansari, Mayor of Camden also attended the event as one of the VIP guests.
The representation of Black and other minority ethnic (BAME) women at every level of governance from the Houses of Parliament to local government is woefully low. Of the 646 MPs in Westminster, two are BAME women and out of 20,000 Councillors, 149 are BME women, representing less than 1% of Councillors nationally.
Merlene Toh Emerson （杜淑真）, PPC for Hammersmith and co-founder of Chinese Lib Dems visited the Chinese Association in Tower Hamlets on 11 July. She shared with their members her reasons for standing in the forthcoming General Elections and encouraged them to register to vote.
A warm invitation is extended to all friends and supporters to join CLDs in celebrating the event with their Patron, Lord Paddy Ashdown. The 10 course dinner will be held at The Ocean Palace Restaurant in Bournemouth on Monday 21st September. For more information or to reserve your place, email info@chineselibdems.org.uk.