After nearly three decades of public service, in which she has become one of the most prominent politicians in Hong Kong, it is hard to imagine Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai was ever shy or insecure. But she says she was not at all confident as a young woman and had trouble getting her message across. 'After I started working, I realised that if I did not take the initiative to communicate with others, I could never grow out of my shell,' says Fan, who discovered the power of the smile in overcoming timidity.
'If you smile at someone, nine out of 10 times a smile will be returned. When people smile at me, I feel more confident to start a conversation, and the other person also feels more comfortable. Then the conversation flows easily,' she says.
Fan started her career as a university administrator after graduating from the University of Hong Kong in 1967. She was appointed to the Legislative Council in 1983 and to the Executive Council six years later. In 1989, she resigned from her role as associate director at the-then Hong Kong Polytechnic and became head of the Education Commission, forgoing a comfortably paid job for voluntary service.
'I left the polytechnic to avoid a conflict of roles with my new appointment, which would allow me to contribute more to tertiary education,' she says. 'I've always been motivated by my desire to give back.'
She was elected as president of the provisional Legislative Council from 1997 to 1998, and then the Legislative Council for three terms. She was the first woman elected to the post and its longest-serving president. Fan is also a veteran deputy of the National People's Congress and was elected to its Standing Committee in 2008.
Her principles in life, she says, are to be honest, responsible and humble, remembering that even the cleverest and wisest of people also make mistakes. 'Being humble enables me to see my own shortcomings and appreciate the strengths of other people, and thereby respect others while improving myself.'