Hong Kong today
Hong Kong Legislative Councillor at McGill
Monday, October 18
Macdonald-Harrington Building, Room G10
815 Sherbrooke Street West
Downtown campus, at 6:00 pm
The first and only woman elected to the Hong Kong Legislative Council in 1995, Emily Lau Wai-hing will open McGill聮s Royal Victoria College (RVC) Centennial Speaker Series on October 18, 1999 in the Macdonald-Harrington Building, Room G10, on the downtown campus at 6 pm. Her topic will focus on Hong Kong since its return to Chinese rule in 1997. Flo Tracy, the Warden of RVC, McGill聮s only all-female residence, is encouraging the University community and the public to attend, saying that "it promises to be a fascinating look at the current social and political climate in the former British crown colony. We聮re pleased to welcome a woman of influence and international profile to speak to our students and the public on a subject of such importance."
Emily Lau was born in Hong Kong. She attended the University of Southern California from 1973-76 and graduated with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. She received an M.Sc. in International Relations from the London School of Economics in 1982.
In 1976, Lau became a reporter for the South China Morning Post. She later worked for the Hong Kong TVB News as reporter, producer, assistant assignment editor and senior producer. In 1982, she became assistant producer in the Current Affairs Department of BBC-TV in London, and has worked as Hong Kong correspondent for the Far Eastern Economic Review. She has also been a lecturer for the Department of Journalism and Communication, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Lau is firm and unambiguous in her political views. She has worked tirelessly on issues related to political rights, freedom of expression and freedom of the press, communicating local people聮s wishes and demands to the Hong Kong Chinese and British governments. She continues to fight for democracy and for the right of the people of Hong Kong to determine their future through democratic means.
The opening of Royal Victoria College in 1899 marked the beginning of co-ed education at McGill, as the women of RVC began to be integrated into the previously all-male classes at the University. Considerable fanfare accompanied the official inauguration in the autumn of 1900. To further celebrate, a special convocation was held at the College in September 1901, when the Chancellor bestowed LL.D.聮s on the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, the future King George V and Queen Mary. Up until 1970 all women undergraduates were also members of RVC. Only those students whose families resided in the Montreal area, or who had been given explicit permission to live elsewhere by their parents or guardians, could live outside the protective environment of the College during their studies.
Named in honour of Queen Victoria, whose imposing bronzed image still sits regally on the steps of the building which now houses the Faculty of Music next door, Royal Victoria College is celebrating its 100th anniversary throughout 1999-2000. A variety of projects, including the Centennial Lecture Series and a fundraising auction, are scheduled for the fall of 2000. Further information about these events can be obtained by calling (514) 398-2200.
