Once a district councillor in Hong Kong, Alice Lee arrived in Scotland as a political refugee. Now elected in Alloa, she proves that immigrants can belong, contribute, and lead.

A crumpled crisp packet, a discarded plastic bottle, and a piece of broken glass… Alice Fung King Ishigami Lee bent down to pick them up from the high street of Alloa, a quiet Scottish town nestled in Clackmannanshire. This was more than just litter-picking. It was about finding her place in her new home.

From councillor to political refugee

Born in Hong Kong, Alice was a district councillor in Yan Lam, where she proudly represented her community. 

But in 2021, Alice became a political refugee due to her involvement in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy primaries.

Pro-democracy primaries were informal elections to select opposition candidates ahead of legislative elections. Authorities viewed the primaries as subversive under the sweeping National Security Law imposed by Beijing in 2020. The law criminalised dissent and curtailed political freedoms. Over 50 pro-democracy figures were arrested.

“I didn’t feel safe,” says Alice. “I didn’t know if someone was following me.”

Fearing for her safety, she decided to leave everything behind. 

But she didn’t choose her new home at random. Alice had studied near Alloa at the University of Stirling more than three decades ago. That past connection helped ease her transition. She arrived in Scotland under a Leave Outside the Immigration Rules (LOTR) visa, a provision granted on political and humanitarian grounds.

“I felt lighter. Even though I was still a bit jumpy,” says Alice. “Finally, I could breathe easier. I chose to be here, and that felt like freedom.”

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Finding home from litter-picking

In a political climate where immigrants are sometimes accused of failing to integrate or dividing communities, Alice’s story offers a powerful rebuttal. 

Determined to contribute, Alice turned to what she knew best: grassroots service. 

“The high street was so dirty after COVID,” she says. Having done litter picking back in Hong Kong, she and her husband began doing the same in Alloa. “This country is so pretty, and I want to keep it that way.”

But picking up litter wasn’t the only way she began to connect with the community. She joined local activities like Scottish dancing, hiking, and knitting. These were not just hobbies; they were acts of belonging.

From a political refugee to a leader

One day, after attending public meetings with her husband out of curiosity, community council members encouraged Alice to take things further. After regularly attending their activities and public meetings, community council members asked her to join them. 

“I thought, ‘Why not?’” she says.

In March 2024, Alice was appointed secretary of the Alloa community council. “Being part of the council wasn’t just about having something to do,” she says. “I wanted to put my experience as a district councillor to good use and help people help themselves.”

As secretary of the community council, Alice raised issues such as better trash cans, addressing drug problems, and the overuse of e-cigarettes. But her ambitions didn’t stop there.

She is especially passionate about getting young people involved in local decision-making. “It’s not a paid position and comes with many responsibilities,” she says. “But their voices matter. If they want change, they need to be part of the conversation.”

A sudden loss

Just as Alice began planting deeper roots in Alloa, she faced a sudden loss less than two years after settling there. Her world fell apart. 

Her husband, her partner in everything, started coughing up blood. He was confirmed to have metastatic stage four cancer. Within two months, he was gone.

“I never thought he would leave me so suddenly,” she says, her voice breaking. “One moment, he was here. And then… he wasn’t.”

When her family gathered in Scotland, another blow came—her 101-year-old mother in Hong Kong passed away. “Losing them both was like losing a part of myself,” she says. “But what could I do? I had to keep going. I had to survive.” 

Through the grief, the community stood by her, the same one she had served, danced with, and picked up litter beside. In her time of need, they returned the support she had once given so freely. 

At her husband’s funeral, guests arrived in a rainbow of colours, not black. 

“I wanted to celebrate our love, not just mourn it,” she says. “I want to say goodbye without regrets.”

Alice moves forward, not by forgetting, but by honouring. “I believe in resilience. No matter what happens in life, we have to keep moving forward,” she says. 

She still attends council meetings. She still picks up litter. She still believes in improving her community, no matter how small the action.

If you’re looking for an inspiring story of an immigrant woman in politics, read the journey of Sheffield Lord Mayor Safiya Saeed becoming a leader.