Busy times ahead for new President of London Chinatown Chinese Association

09/09/2008

The London Chinatown Chinese Association has a new President, Leslie Ng, and a newly elected committee. They are likely to be extremely busy over the next few months, working on a range of initiatives and events that will raise the profile and performance of London’s vibrant Chinatown.

New LCCA President Leslie Ng has long been involved with Chinatown community.  He was a Vice-President of the LCCA committee for eight years.  And he was co-founder and former chairman of the London Chinatown Police Liaison Group, forging close links between Chinatown’s community and local police.  He has also worked in and run businesses in Chinatown, including a bakery, restaurants and grocery stores. 

The other LCCA executive committee members – all volunteers – are: First Vice President, Jeffrey Cheung; and Vice Presidents Suzannah Kwok, Peter Lam, Winnie Man and James Tsang.  Two new positions – Chairman (Mr Chu Ting Tang) and Vice Chairman (David Tang) – have also been created as a result of the growing interest in all things Chinese and the strength of the LCCA’s relationship with the Chinese government and Embassy. 

LCCA President Leslie Ng said: ‘The London Chinatown Chinese Association performs an important role: responding to the needs of Chinatown’s residents and businesses, and improving the area for the local community and visitors.  It’s an honour to become LCCA President at a time when so many exciting developments are taking place for London’s Chinatown.”

Highlights over the next few months include:

• Working with the Princes Foundation for Built Environment on its recommendations to improve London’s Chinatown and make it ‘the best Chinatown in the world’.  Following Prince Charles’ visit to Chinatown in November 2007 and a two day workshop in May 2008 involving the LCCA, Westminster City Council and other Chinatown stakeholders, the Princes Foundation will release its recommendations at a press launch on Tuesday 16 September 2008 at 10.30am at the New World Restaurant, Chinatown.

• Organising the Mid Autumn (Moon) Festival from 12-3pm in Gerrard Street on Sunday 14 September 2008, where there will be stage featuring lion dancing and Chinese cultural performances. Chinatown is already decorated with colourful lanterns for this festival. The event will be attended by the Lord Mayor of Westminster and VIP from Chinese Embassy.

• Organising and attending a dinner in Chinatown with representatives of all UK Chinese associations to mark the visit of Ms Li Haifeng, Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council. Lion dances will take place in Gerrard Street at 7pm on Friday 12 September 2008.

• Organising London’s Chinese New Year celebrations, which will take place on Sunday 1 February 2009.

The LCCA works in partnership with organisations such as Westminster City Council, the Metropolitan Police, the Greater London Authority, and local landlord Shaftesbury Plc.  Since it was established over 30 years ago, the LCCA has achieved a great deal.  In the 1980s, it began organising Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown.  Having become the first private event with a stage at Trafalgar Square in 2002, London’s Chinese New Year celebrations are now the biggest outside Asia. 

Also in the 1980s and 1990s, the Chinese gates in Gerrard Street, Chinese Pagoda in Newport Place were erected; and stone lions were commissioned for Gerrard Street.  A new traditional styled Chinese gate, especially commissioned from China, will be erected in the near future on Wardour Street.  The LCCA has also been involved in high-profile visits by Prince Charles and other dignatories, as well as organising other events such as the London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival and, more recently, the Olympic Torch Relay.

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