IN CONFIDENCE
Salford Quays
In the afternoon there was visit to the Salford Quays project, where the visitors were received by Mr Peter Henry, Assistant Chief Executive (Economic Affairs). After a video which gave the main details of the project, Mr Henry outlined the financial structure behind it and this elicited a series of questions, particularly on the relationship between central government and local government financing. After the discussions there was a tour of the site showing completed project (the hotel, the cinema and the office block), projects under construction, and spaces where projects not yet started would be located. The visitors were clearly interested in the whole concept of Salford Quays and impressed with what they saw.
Manchester Steel Limited - (21 November)
The first half of the morning was occupied by a visit to Manchester Steel Limited where a steel plant is being dismantled by a team of Chinese workers for sale and shipment to China. Mrs Sung, Deputy Chief Engineer, speaking in Chinese, described the background to the sale, the methods of effecting the removal and the problems encountered in doing so. The visitors were very alert during this account and asked questions frequently. The whole atmosphere was animated and lively.
Castlefield Heritage Centre
Later in the morning there was a visit to the Castlefield Heritage Centre and a tour under the guidance of Mr Tom Leatherbarrow, the Marketing Director. After a video illustrating the history and development of the Castlefield's conservation area Mr Leatherbarrow showed the party the Roman fort, Liverpool Road Station, the Science Museum and the Aviation Gallery. The visitors appeared to find this all of great interest, particularly the Science Museum where they took a considerable number of photographs. The visit was rounded off with lunch at the Mark Addy pub, part of the refurbishment of the banks of the River Irwell where it passes through the Manchester conurbation.
Manchester City Football Club
After lunch the visitors went to Manchester City football grount to watch the game with Birmingham City.
CONCLUSION
It is difficult to write a clear cut conclusion to the visit. It was certainly not unsuccessful, but nether can it be described as an unqualified success. Certain parts worked extremely well: the visit to the BBC to the University, to Salford Quays and to the Heritage Centre. Others worked less well, including the visits to the Chinese community. But with the changes made at the visitors request, contacts with the Chinese community amounted to four relatively short visits occupying about two hours in all. If there are reservations to be made they would appear to lie in the attitude of the visitors. They were certainly not discourteous, much less hostile; rather they were at times cool, reserved and laid-back and this inevitabily affected the general atmosphere of the visit.
f
Corbi
Jim Forde-Johnston Escorting Officer North Western Region
27 November 1987
INCONFIDENCE
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.