From the frontlines of news reporting to the political arena, from being a journalist to a lawmaker, from family decisions to standing firm in prison, this issue of “Drifting Legends” tells the story of a determined woman – Claudia Mo, who is nearly 70 years old and has been dubbed the “Hong Kong version of Aung San Suu Kyi.” Recently, she attended a farewell gathering for the well-known stock commentator David Webb, who is suffering from terminal cancer. It was her first public appearance since her release from prison, and her smile still shines brightly. Reflecting on Mother’s Day, she recalled her late mother’s teachings: “Hold your head high in life!”
In the early hours of April 29, 2025, a vehicle carrying Claudia Mo and her co-defendants drove out of the prison. They were the first four members of the pro-democracy “47 people case” to be released upon completing their sentences. Though the vehicle’s windows were covered by curtains, they could not hide the familiar faces of Hong Kong people inside.
The woman who had just walked out of incarceration had once written while in prison: “I may be stumbling but not falling.” Claudia Mo was imprisoned for participating in the 2020 pro-democracy primary elections in Hong Kong, and was convicted under the National Security Law for “conspiracy to subvert state power,” receiving a sentence of four years and two months.
Claudia Mo’s husband, Philip Bowring, also a veteran media figure and former columnist for the South China Morning Post, hails from the same lineage as the fourth Governor of Hong Kong, Sir John Bowring. In February 2023, Philip was critically ill with pneumonia and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. The political circles had called on the government to allow Claudia Mo to visit him on humanitarian grounds, but the request was ultimately denied. Fortunately, he eventually recovered. Now, the family can finally reunite.
Claudia Mo was a well-known figure in Hong Kong during the 1980s, covering the Sino-British negotiations as a journalist. Now at the age of 68, she has gracefully endured four years of imprisonment, embodying strength and elegance in her own “drifting legend.”
During her tenure as a lawmaker in the Legislative Council, Claudia Mo was one of the rare few among nearly 70 members who was fluent in French. Born in Hong Kong in 1957, she showed a talent for languages from a young age, excelling in both Chinese and English at St. Paul’s Convent School and later studying French.
In an interview, she shared: “When I was in my teens at St. Paul’s, many of the nuns came from France, so I started learning French during my school days. Later, when I went to study in Ottawa, Canada, which is a bilingual city of English and French, I continued learning French. Upon my return to Hong Kong, I worked with a French news agency and frequently listened to French, gradually becoming more fluent.”
During her high school exams, she majored in science and obtained A grades in both Chinese and English, but her science results were not as ideal, leading to her not being accepted by local universities. Undeterred, she went on to study journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada in 1979 and formally began her career as a journalist.
Upon returning to Hong Kong, Claudia Mo leveraged her language skills to join Agence France-Presse and the English-language Tiger Standard newspaper. From 1982 to 1985, she worked as a news reporter and anchor for TVB, frequently appearing on television screens during the Sino-British negotiations.
In 1986, she returned to Agence France-Presse as a correspondent in Hong Kong before heading to Beijing in 1989 to witness the events of the 1989 pro-democracy movement and the Tiananmen Square massacre.
“In that era, information was not as freely available, and society had a general indifference towards politics. But as the Sino-British negotiations progressed, the TV news aired every evening at 6:30, and I often appeared on screen, hence earning the title of ‘News Flower’,” Claudia Mo said. “I believe that the essence of a journalist is to seek the truth. Over the years, I have always treated it with sincerity, sincerely believing that there is such a thing as truth in the world.”
Many viewers from the 1980s still remember her relentless questioning of senior officials during her time at TVB News, with even officials marveling at her tenacity: “This girl is really something.” Truly living up to the title of “News Flower.”
In 1991, amidst a flourishing journalism career, Claudia Mo made a life-changing decision driven by an incident involving her son, referred to as the “Onion incident.” During a conversation with her three-year-old son, when asked who the most loved person in the world was, her son’s answer turned out to be their household helper. It was a heartbreaking moment for her, leading her to question herself: “Between career and family, which should I choose?”
She resolutely resigned from her journalist position, devoting herself to her son’s upbringing, hosting a radio program called “Inter-School General Knowledge Quiz Competition” to better understand children’s psychology. She later authored parenting books, conducted parenting workshops, and continued the legacy of love.
Even after leaving the media industry, Claudia Mo did not fade from society. In 2000, she served as a part-time lecturer at Chinese University and Baptist University, nurturing the next generation of journalists.
In 2008, she ventured into YouTube, teaching English in an engaging manner, becoming one of Hong Kong’s early “educational YouTubers”. (Click to view: Claudia Mo’s English Classroom – MsClaudiaMo)
In 2012, she published the book “Say No to Chinglish,” criticizing the local English education system for failing to equip students with fluency in English after over a decade, emphasizing that practice is the key. Even after entering the legislative council, she continued to make English teaching videos to help Hong Kong residents improve their language skills.
On the day Claudia Mo was released from prison on April 29, media gathered outside her residence. Her husband, Philip Bowring, answered the door, stating that she needed time to readjust to life. A “Welcome Home Mum” decoration visible from outside the door seemed to indicate a welcome gesture from their two sons. The mother who had sacrificed her career dreams for her son finally returned home just before Mother’s Day, reuniting with her family.
On this year’s Mother’s Day, Claudia Mo shared her late mother’s teachings: “Head held high.” This indomitable belief has accompanied her through life’s storms.
In 2005, Claudia Mo received a life-changing phone call from Audrey Eu inviting her to join the Civic Party. After three days of deliberation, she decided to join, feeling that press freedom was under threat and that media professionals could not remain neutral while disregarding human rights.
In 2006, she became a founding member of the Civic Party and chairperson of the Kowloon West Branch. Although she faced defeat in her first Legislative Council election in 2008, it laid the foundation for her future. She successfully won a seat in 2012 and later co-founded “Localism in Hong Kong” with Edward Yiu in 2013, advocating for “Hong Kong people first.”
She left the Civic Party in 2016 and served as a convenor for the pro-democracy camp during the anti-extradition bill protests in 2019. In 2020, following the disqualification of four pro-democracy lawmakers and the mass resignation of pro-democracy legislators, Claudia Mo bid farewell to the council.
During the 2020 pro-democracy primaries, Claudia Mo stood for election in Kowloon West and garnered 9,308 votes, securing her candidacy. Subsequently, she was charged with “conspiracy to subvert state power” and has been in detention since 2021, receiving a sentence of four years and two months.
While in prison, Claudia Mo maintained her optimistic demeanor, teaching English classes to young inmates, revisiting her French studies, and reading over three hundred books, demonstrating a resilient spirit.
Three days after her release on May 2, 2025, Claudia Mo took to Facebook, describing her life in prison as “almost Kafkaesque” and expressing concerns for her co-defendants. In her post, she greeted supporters with her signature smile, relieving their burdens.
From being a news flower to a prominent figure in politics, from a mother devoted to her children to a mentor in prison, Claudia Mo’s life has never lost its faith. Despite the challenges, she consistently chooses to walk with her “head held high,” passing through each phase of life resolutely.
Will her story inspire you to embark on your path of faith? #