Passing of the baton at CLDs’ Annual General Meeting

On 20 November the Chinese Liberal Democrats held their Annual General meeting at Camden townhall as reported in Singtao newspaper over the weekend.

Outgoing Chair Merlene thanked the CLD executive team and everyone at the meeting for their support and reported on the year past. Highlights had included:

• Chinese New Year celebrations held at the Tuli Restaurant near London Bridge with Lord Clement-Jones and Sir Graham Watson MEP as key note speakers and with substantial funds raised for the London elections.
• Launch of a crime questionnaire in Chinatown with BC Project as well as a Survey on the take up of Free School meals by Chinese students, working with the then Schools Minister, Sarah Teather MP.
• Attendance at Federal Conference in Newcastle Gateshead and meeting up with the NE Chinese Community Association.
• Launch of the British Chinese Leadership Fund at Lib Dem HQ to raise funds to help select and elect more Chinese councillors and MPs.
• Participation in a Chinese community open day in Soho with Yeing-Lang Crouch and Cllr Linda Chung leading a workshop on employment law.
• Cllr Sam Li and his wife Jenny, Jerry Cheung from Sheffield and Merlene participating in a Study Trip to China at the invitation of the Overseas Chinese Department of the Chinese government just before the 18th Party Congress.

Reports were also received from other officers including the Treasurer, Philip Ling, Yeing Lang Crouch as Membership officer and Andy Yau Communities liaison officer. Amendments to the Constitution were passed to comply with requirements from the Federal Executive of the party, and a new category of life membership was also introduced.

The following officers were nominated and seconded for 2013:

Chair: Phil Ling

Vice-Chairs: Linda Chung, Merlene Emerson and Jerry Cheung

Treasurer: Phil Ling

Membership: Yeing-Lang Crouch

Secretary: Roger Crouch

Community liaison: Haywood Ho

Communications: David Bartram

Student liaison: Amberose He

Ordinary members: Naomi Li, Sam Li, Alexander Payton, Sarah Yong

Honorary President: Sir Graham Watson MEP

At the end of the formal part of the AGM, Rev Vincent Aun, pastor of the Chinese Church in London and guest speaker spoke about some of the challenges facing Chinatown and his vision for its future.