HONG KONG - In a 90-second English speech at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council's 61st regular session, Joephy Chan Wing-yan (Joephy Chan) of Hong Kong, China, spoke with composure on remembering history, opposing militarism, and safeguarding world peace. Her steady delivery drew the attention of delegates from across the globe.

It was Chan's sixth appearance at the United Nations, having been invited by the United Nations Association of China since 2021.

Years ago, when she first ran for a district council seat in Hong Kong, young and inexperienced Chan was described as "a little flower against a giant" when facing other strong rivals. Today, she is a seasoned Legislative Council member, yet many residents still call her "little flower" with affection.

On an ordinary April evening in Tsuen Wan, Chan stood at a street booth as commuters hurried home. She patiently updated residents on a plan to cut local ferry services, listening to their worries and taking detailed notes. For more than a decade, these regular evening sessions have been her routine to stay close to the people.

In 2014, Chan returned to Hong Kong after completing her studies in Britain. She turned down promising career prospects in finance and law to join the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, starting full-time community service in Sham Shui Po -- one of Hong Kong's most grassroots and densely populated neighborhoods.

In 2015, she defeated a long-serving incumbent to become one of Hong Kong's youngest district councilors. She was elected to the Legislative Council in 2021 and comfortably re-elected in 2025 with strong public support.

"Staying connected with residents is the most basic duty of a public servant," Chan said. She maintains consistent, daily contact with the community -- not only during election periods.

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Chan also runs bilingual social media accounts, with more than 600,000 followers worldwide, over 60 percent of whom are young people. She films and edits videos in her spare time after work, covering her community visits, council duties, youth exchange programs and UN engagements.

She noted that high voter turnout in her constituency during two successive Legislative Council elections was closely linked to this sustained online and offline outreach. Her platforms help people from all walks of life better understand public services and the country's development.

As head of youth affairs at the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, Chan regularly leads young people from Hong Kong to visit the mainland. They learn about e-commerce, new media operations and innovative startups. Many have since launched their own online channels and gained a clearer, closer understanding of national development.

When Chan first spoke at the UN Human Rights Council in 2021, she practiced late into the night, nervous about missing a single word or misrepresenting Hong Kong's reality. Over six sessions, her topics have expanded to include the true situation in Hong Kong, protection of vulnerable groups, and international fairness and justice.

Her growing confidence, she said, comes from Hong Kong's steady progress, stable governance, public trust and the firm backing of the motherland.

"I am no longer just a 'little flower'," Chan said. "I hope to keep growing so that I can truly protect and serve the people."