5 trailblazing Hong Kong women who broke through the glass ceiling
These high achievers serve as beacons in the push towards sex equality
In 2014, the World Economic Forum predicted it would take until 2095 to achieve global gender parity, but wound back its forecast the next year to 2133. So why is the rate of progress so glacial? In a bid to nudge organisations along, “Pledge for Parity” has been chosen as the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, which falls today.
Still, there are achievements to celebrate, among them those of five Hong Kong women who have made great strides in the city and beyond.
Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, director general of the World Health Organisation
Before taking the helm of the world’s leading health body, Chan was the first woman to head Hong Kong’s Department of Health. She was in charge of handling the first outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in the city in 1997 and of the response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak in 2003. Chan, 68, ranked 73rd on Forbes’ list of the World’s Most Powerful People in 2015.
Anson Chan Fang On-sang, former chief secretary