Introducing Ying Perrett, Council Candidate for Surrey Heath

Ying was born in HK and grew up in Singapore. She then went on to complete her degree in the UK in Oxford Brookes University and returned to work in Asia as a reporter. Her versatility saw her change her career a couple more times, as a market analyst and then a partner in a recruitment firm.

Fast forward, Ying moved back to the UK with her family under the British National (Overseas) (BNO) visa in 2021.

"The upheaval in Hong Kong and COVID were all contributing factors to our move and with my husband being British, the natural choice was to accept early retirement and return home with him," she recalls.

Her journey with the Lib Dems started during the 2019 General Elections in UK. While in Hong Kong, she noticed how the Lib Dems campaigned for the BNOs to be offered right of abode. On further research, the party's 2019 manifesto impressed her, so, on a whim, she contacted the Lib Dems in Woking where she initially settled and received a very warm welcome.

Sadly, Ying noticed that the current UK government was not prepped to follow through with helping the newly arrivals from the former British colony to settle and adapt. There was a lack of inclusivity; and councils, though helpful, were not informed nor equipped to handle queries. So, this is something she wants to address: inclusivity and diversity.

Ying candidly admitted, "Regional WhatsApp and Signal groups were set up to share information for getting in-year transfers to schools, doctor's appointments, renting and purchasing accommodations."

Addressing the needs of the constituents and walking the talk is important. Don't make promises you cannot keep. Upholding transparency and ensuring that you do your best to make things happen is the way forward. To quote Atticus Finch in Harper Lee's novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird', "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

Married with a son and daughter, Ying practices martial arts and holds a second degree black belt in Karate. She also tutors English and English Literature to students from Hong Kong. She was an active supporter of the Rain Lily Rape Crisis Centre in Hong Kong and sat in the committee of various women's association in Singapore and Hong Kong. She is a volunteer as a co-editor of the Bisley and West End Parish News.

Editor: Good luck in the local elections. You would make a great Councillor!