TNAG-1482-FCO40-2036-Economic-and-commercial-value-of-Hong-Kong-to-the-UK-1986 — Page 83

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HONG KONG INVESTORS IN THE NORTH EAST

SUPERBADGE LTD, WASHINGTON

ACTIVEBADGE LTD, PETERLEE AND

In 1983, after some encouragement by Regional agencies, Peninsular

Knitters and Sun Hing Knitting, two leading Hong Kong knitwear companies,

made a pioneering decision to set up Activebadge Ltd, a knitwear production plant at Peterlee, County Durham, to employ around 160 local workers with a project cost of about £1 million.

In 1985, the two companies decided to expand their UK base in the

Northern Region by the establishment of Superbadge Ltd, a predominantly knitting unit at Washington, Tyne & Wear, to employ 116 local workers

with a project cost of over £2 million. - Both projects were supported

by the Regional DTI.

High quality knitted sweater production in the North East from these

sources has been exclusively for export to the USA and through the lead shown by these investments a new industrial sector fully fashioned

knitwear is becoming established in the Northern Region.

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The principals of these companies are the joint managing directors,

Mr Henry Tang Ying-Yen whose Hong Kong company, Peninsular Knitters,

employs 1000 in Hong Kong and also operates in China, USA etc, and

Mr Andrew Leung Kwan-Yuen whose Hong Kong company, Sun Hing Knitting,

employs 300 in Hong Kong and also operates in China. Both of these

investors and their fellow directors have continuing involvement with the

Home Office over immigration matters and can give an up-to-date view of

the situation as seen from Hong Kong by themselves and their many friends in prominent Hong Kong business circles. Both hold "British" passports

issued in Hong Kong.

CDF/PF/94561

12.5.86