Virginia was born in Hong Kong after the Second World War and was the seventh of nine children. Her father, from Guangzhou, was a doctor of Chinese medicine. After completing school Virginia worked in a bank in Hong Kong until her boyfriend graduated from university and moved to the UK in 1975. In the UK she began as an assistant accountant, her career progressed through various accountancy positions until she studied for an accountancy degree, graduating in 1983. She took different accountancy jobs before securing a position with the NHS where she worked for over 20 years until retirement. Since retirement she has worked as an interpreter for a local hospital until 2018 and still actively supports people in the community and is a board member of Wai Yin Society.
