NE Region
Events in the NE Region are organised by Clinton Leeks.
Guided visit to Sunderland Maritime Heritage - Thursday 7th September 2023
On 7 September a dozen members of the NE Region accompanied Chairman Clinton Leeks on a visit to Sunderland Maritime Heritage, a charity which keeps alive the amazing history of shipbuilding in the city and the skills it has involved. Like Hong Kong, Sunderland has a remarkable maritime history, and in World War II was a shipbuilding superpower, building on a short stretch of the River Wear a third of the over 5 million tons of mercantile marine tonnage built in UK in the war. Members were shown round the workshop and museum by local expert Ian Murray, and then adjourned for an excellent Chinese lunch at Bar Shu Impression in the city centre.
Chinese Banquet - Thursday 20th September 2022
The NE Region held a Chinese banquet at Sky Restaurant in Newcastle Upon Tyne’s Chinatown.
30 guests joined Chairman Clinton Leeks OBE in the Region’s first meeting since before the pandemic. The guests enjoyed a sumptuous meal and a talk by guest of honour John McCabe, CEO of the NE England Chamber of Commerce, on the business situation in the NE and how the chamber could help businesses.
Lindsay Jones the HKS Executive Director also attended. All agreed it was great to be back enjoying great dining and reminiscing over Hong Kong.
NE Region Annual Dinner - Thursday 25th April 2019
On 25 April some 60 friends of the HKS North East gathered at Liu Dining, on Newcastle Upon Tyne’s spectacular Quayside, for the Region’s annual dinner.
There were tables from the NE England Chamber of Commerce, InvestHK, the NE Chinese Association and a host of leading academics from Durham University, other friends and supporters. They heard from James Ramsbotham CBE, Chief Executive of the Chamber, Andrew Seaton, Executive Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, and Ms Priscilla To, Director-General of the HK Economic & Trade Office in London, about the economic and other strengths and opportunities of Hong Kong and the great openings for British business in the HK Special Administrative Region. All enjoyed too a sumptuous meal provided by Kevin Liu and his excellent team! Our thanks go to the very generous sponsorship of the NE Chamber and InvestHK.
Hong Kong Society North East Visits Teesside! Thursday 21st April 2016
The Hong Kong Society North East Region (HKSNE) is the newest regional organisation of the UK-wide Hong Kong Society.
On Thursday 21 April 2016 the HKSNE, with the support of numerous local business and other organisations, held its first event in Teesside. The Tees Valley, with its own strong economic developments in ports, trade, logistics, industry, communications and technology has like other areas of the North East its own interest in developing stronger business and other links with the huge dynamic economy of China–for which Hong Kong is a commercial and transport hub as well as being the premier gateway.
The event included a guided tour of the iconic Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge, over 100 years old, winner of numerous engineering accolades and Grade II* listed. This was followed by cocktails and canape’s and the opportunity to network at the Brasserie next door to the bridge’s southern tower.
The event was generously co-organised by PD Ports of Teesport.
NE Dinner - Tuesday 26th May 2015
On 26 May the Region hosted the Director General of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Ms Erica Ng JP, as its guest of honour at a dinner attended by over 60 business people, community leaders, artists and students at the Sky Restaurant in Newcastle’s Chinatown.
It was Ms Ng’s first visit to the North East and she and her deputy Ms Cherie Yeung took the opportunity to spend a day in the city, also meeting the North East Chamber of Commerce, local business leaders and representatives of the NE Chinese Association. Undeterred by earlier threats of a rail strike she changed her plans and travelled by air, and guests applauded her commitment in making the journey despite her very heavy schedule back in London. In her address at the dinner she updated those attending on current steps to fully develop representative government in Hong Kong, and on the unique opportunities Hong Kong offered as a business partner for the North East, especially given its strong and close economic relationship with Mainland China.
The event was generously supported by PD Ports based in Teesport, the Hong Kong Society in London, UK Trade & Investment, the China-Britain Business Council and Emirates Airlines.
2014
On the evening of Friday 7th November 2014 the Hong Kong Society North East Region held its inaugural event at the Sky Restaurant in the heart of Newcastle’s Chinatown.
In true Hong Kong style the 65 guests, a broad mix of sponsors, community leaders, business people, former residents and those with connections or a strong interest in Hong Kong and students, wined dined and chatted over an excellent Chinese meal.
They were addressed by guest of honour Andrew Seaton CMG, former British Consul General in HK, who reviewed past and recent developments in Hong Kong and spoke with cautious optimism about the city’s future. The event was generously supported by UK Trade & Investment, the Hong Kong Society in London, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the UK and Emirates Airlines.
The feedback after the event was very positive and the society is now looking forward to a successful 2015 with further regional events during the course of the year. On the 24th February we were invited to attend the NE Chinese Association`s annual Chinese New Year dinner at the Lancastrian Banqueting Centre (former Fed Brewery) in Dunston, Gateshead.
Then on the 26th May, at the Sky Restaurant in Stowell St, Newcastle Upon Tyne, we will host a Chinese banquet to welcome the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office’s Director-General Ms Erica Ng, who from her office in London is responsible for Hong Kong’s economic and trade relations with the UK. This is proving a momentous time for Hong Kong so we look forward to her address with great interest.