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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1977
GOVERNMENT OPENS MANCHESTER BRANCH OFFICE
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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON HAS OPENED A NEW BRANCH OFFICE IN MANCHESTER TO EXPAND ITS WORK AMONG THE HONG KONG CHINESE COMMUNITY IN THE NORTH-WEST REGION OF ENGLAND.
THE BRANCH OFFICE WILL HAVE A STAFF OF THREE WHO WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ADVISE AND ASSIST HONG KONG PEOPLE NOW LIVING AND WORKING IN THE REGION. THE STAFF WILL ALSO BE READY TO HELP LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH CHINESE RESIDENTS.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW BRANCH OFFICE, MR. S.T. KIDD, THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER, SAID: IT IS MY EXPERIENCE THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE ENJOY AN ENVIABLE REPUTATION FOR HARD WORK AND GOOD BEHAVIOUR WHEREVER THEY MAY SETTLE IN THE U.K. BUT, INEVITABLY, THERE CAN BE DIFFICULTIES AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS FOR NON-ENGLISH- SPEAKING PEOPLE CONCERNING LIFE IN A NEW AND VERY COMPLEX WESTERN SOCIETY.+
MR. KIDD ADDED THAT THE STAFF WERE THERE TO DO ALL THEY COULD TO RESOLVE THESE DIFFICULTIES AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS.
+ INDEED, THE MORE THEY ARE CONSULTED THE BETTER PLEASED THEY WILL BE, HE SAID.
THE OPENING WAS ATTENDED BY MR. DENIS BRAY, THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER-DESIGNATE, AND GUESTS INCLUDED THE LORD MAYOR OF MANCHESTER, COUNCILLOR M.R. CRAWFORD, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GREATER MANCHESTER COUNCIL. COUNCILLOR J.H. BERRY, POLICE AND CIVIL COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERS, AND CHINESE COMMUNITY LEADERS IN LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE.
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