Jackson Ng: Barrister and Political Advisor discusses his life

Photo by Allan Hong ©NEEHAO 

By Tom Pang – Political Editor 

Jackson Ng is one of the most well known individuals in the British-Chinese political arena, having established a name for himself as Director of the Conservative Friends of the Chinese and as a leading lawyer fighting for the community’s interest.

Early life

The “rising star”, as some Conservatives have pointed out, was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands to a Dutch Indonesian Chinese mother – whose family fled Indonesia during the 1960s anti Chinese riots there – and a Singaporean father. Having lived around the world, in 2002 he returned to Britain and decided to read law at the School of Oriental and African Studies. After completing an internship with Amnesty International and wanting to pursue his interest in human rights, he later transferred to the London School of Economics and Political Science. Jackson worked briefly in the City of London before qualifying as a Solicitor-Advocate in London’s West End.

In March 2015, Jackson became a Partner at one of the most prominent law firms in the British Chinese community, Chan Neill Solicitors where he specialises in litigation cases some of which have been widely reported in the media and abroad. Recently, he is well known in taking on cases involving the community and racial discrimination, actions against the Police and unscrupulous businesses. He also recently cross-qualified as a Barrister and also practices from a set of chambers in Temple, London.

For Jackson, his two greatest accomplishments are having legally assisted the most vulnerable in our communities and also establishing and strengthening the influential Conservative Friends of the Chinese. Yet above all else, he aims to inspire a larger number of people to enter politics and public life.

One of Jackson Ng’s first significant political decisions was to join the Conservative Party in 2009. He did so as he felt the Conservatives best represented his views and ideals. Four years later, he was appointed to be the Director of the Conservative Friends of the Chinese, a partisan group which aims to represent the Conservative Party in British Chinese circles. The organisation, which is based at Conservative HQ in London, has seen Jackson frequently meet important politicians to give updates and news concerning the Chinese community. The organisation can be credited for helping to politically empower Chinese people and for lifting the Conservative Party’s support base in the British Chinese communities.

In 2015, Jackson Ng stood as a Conservative parliamentary candidate in Liverpool Riverside, where he confesses that the experience gave him the opportunity to see how a localised political campaign is run. Sadly towards the end of his campaign, he was racially abused but had an opportunity to voice out this issue for the British Community as he was invited by the BBC to speak about it to the wider community in Merseyside.

The trilingual Barrister is also Political Advisor to the House of Lords’ youngest member, Lord Wei. From closely working within the Conservative Party, the UK Parliament and with other foreign governments, he has gained considerable knowledge of politics on a national and international level; experience not many in our community possesses.

With the referendum date in less than 1 week, emotions are extremely high as most polls point to no clear lead for either sides of the campaign. And with the Conservative Party seemingly to have split over the EU referendum, NeeHao Magazine wondered what is Jackson Ng’s stance on the fast-approaching EU referendum.

EU

When some Conservative party supporters are split on the EU referendum, what is your stance on the UK’s upcoming referendum?

I think it is the right thing to do; that is to give the people a say in the future of the country. Yes, it has split the Conservative party but I believe that after the referendum, regardless of the results, the Party will come back together as one big family for the country.

I am European by birth. My family and I have lived in Europe and I can see how the common market benefits Britain. We will be better off in a reformed Europe because British businesses will have full access to the free trade single market, bringing jobs, investment and lower prices.

I also do believe that by working with our European counterparts, we do make Europe, Britain and the world much safer because we can work with our European partners to fight cross-border crime and terrorism.

Britain will be stronger in a reformed Europe because we can play a leading role in one of the world’s largest organisations from within, helping to make the big decisions on trade and security that determine our future.

Do I think the EU is perfect? No, of course I don’t – just like many other people living in other EU countries. However, I believe that being part of the EU will enable Britain to have a leading say, as a leading nation on rules, regulations and matters that affect us on a daily basis. For example, at least Britain will be around the table when they set the standards on how our cars should be manufactured if they were to be exported to the EU. I don’t want our future generations to suffer as a result of the impact leaving the EU will have on our economy/

The alternative, should we vote to leave the EU, is to jump into the abyss and not know what we will be in for. Those who want to leave Europe cannot tell you if British businesses would be able to access Europe’s free trade single market or if working people’s jobs are safe or how much prices would rise.

Therefore, we are better off in a stronger, safer and better off in a reformed EU.

Are you active in either of the opposing sides?

Yes, I am active in the referendum campaign. I have recently helped the Britain Stronger in Europe team organise a panel discussion with the Healthy Secretary to the British Chinese community and media. It was a real first for me as I never thought I would be sitting on the same table with representatives from the Chinese for Labour and Chinese for Lib Dem organisations agreeing on one issue.

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