Olivia is the author of ‘For Our Daughters’ (Praeger Publishing 1996 ) and the Chinese edition, ‘Nan Ren Neng Zuo; Nu Ren Zuo de Geng Hao’ (Anything Men Can Do Women Can Do Better) published in 2012 by Tsinghua University Press. 

After initially studying medicine at University College Dublin, Olivia studied Chinese literature and history at Columbia University and volunteered with the WHO at the UN. During that time, the first Communist Chinese Ambassador was appointed to the UN and Olivia had the opportunity to meet the delegation. She later became friends with the Ambassador’s wife, Mme. He Liliang (who was a participant in writing the Laws of the Sea), her husband Huang Hua, later Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and his chief Counsel, Zhou Nan (later the PRC-designated Governor of Hong Kong, and Foreign Minister of the PRC.)

In the 1960's while China was recovering from a famine brought on by the misconceived economic miracles of its "Red Emperor," aka Chairman Mao, England was at the vanguard of a wave of liberalism, leading the other democratic countries to question their governments after 20 years adherence to post WWII stability. The 60's was characterised by student strikes and sit-ins at universities, sexual liberation, a progression from the mini to the maxi skirt, the Beatles, Francoise Hardy/Serge Gainsburg and Bob Dylan, it was in the 1960's that a new industry, Pop Culture was born.  In 1966 the author joined a new organisation, The Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU), to learn from sympathetic Sinologists. 

Olivia moved to Hong Kong in late 1974, and after she and her husband returned to the USA in 1978, they set up a foundation to promote better healthcare in China. In doing so, they met the leading medical lights of the Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS).  Dr. Wu Jieping was President and Olivia and her husband worked collaboratively with him to establish a new hospital.  During this time she was writing her first book, ‘For Our Daughters’, which was published in 1996.  

The families became friends and later, over a period of several years and at his request, Olivia joined Dr. Wu when he visited hospitals in Hunan and other provinces to record and write this memoir.  

IN CONVERSATION WITH THE AUTHOR:

“ I started a clothing business which was my initial entree to this closed society. I had resided in the US for 5 years prior to moving to China and didn't realise that American nationals could be arrested and jailed for entering a Communist country. As I had both an Irish and British passport, the Chinese immigration authorities were accommodating while reading the riot act about "Western Imperialism!" 

I was living in Hong Kong, on China's doorstep, and the closest I could get to this enigmatic culture that preoccupied most of my waking thoughts was to take a train from Kowloon to Lo Wu in the ‘New Territories.’ This was a part of mainland China leased to the British Government by the failing Imperial Chinese Government in 1898 (and returned in a ceremony called the Handover in 1997). 

We would take a picnic basket on a Spring day and gaze over the fields at the farmers driving their bicycle ploughs and water buffalo and tending to the rice paddies, separated by a barbed wire fence and several police lookout stations, making certain that nobody was tempted to cross. I realised then that the most likely "ticket" for me to get into China was through the clothing industry, so I set about developing a line of children's clothing that was initially manufactured in Hong Kong and sold in the USA.

Within 2 years, I was placing an order with a Shanghai manufacturer who agreed that I could go there to do a quality control inspection. The head of clothing/textiles from might have been astute enough to spot that the overblouse I was wearing that September in 1977 did not completely disguise a bump. When he called in early Jan. '78 and told me, "Our March production is running ahead of schedule and will be ready for inspection on Feb. 15th." I countered, "Your schedule is more flexible than mine and the contract is for a March 15th QC inspection." A very long silence ensued, when he finally asked, "Madam Cox when can you get here?" (After all, even in Communist China, a woman is advised to rest for 30 days following the birth of a child.) My son Jason was born Feb. 20th. and I left for Shanghai March. 5th. 

My first journey to Shanghai will remain etched in my memory for the rest of my life. The weather was foul with rain and fog and visibility so poor that flights were cancelled. I spoke to the head of textiles in Shanghai and told him I would take the train; he was appalled and told me," there's only a 2nd. Class train tonight." I told him I'd be fine with that. The conductor asked what I'd like to eat and knowing that the country was desperately poor, I told him chicken and rice would be good. I was amused when a few hours later the train stopped and a live black skinned chicken was produced for inspection. At that time the train would have taken 24-36 hours to reach Shanghai and I was invited to look at the fresh eggs and another black chicken presented to the cook for my welfare when we stopped at a commune.

Very early in the morning I was awoken by the conductor who bade me step out onto the platform. They had stopped the train so I could witness the sunrise over the famous Western Lake of Hangzhou. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined such an experience, and with China's high-speed rail dominating transport in China, it is of course unthinkable in today's world.

That company I started was sold to Lazard Freres in 1980, but my love for and relationship with China continues to bear fruit.”

- Olivia Cox-Fill