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HMS LIVERPOOL'S VISIT TO SHANGHAI
MAY 2003
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A LIVERPOOL - SHANGHAI SISTER CITY
EVENT
CO-SPONSORED BY
Chinalink
LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL
HMS LIVERPOOL
HMS BRITISH CONSULATE SHANGHAI
WITH THE SUPPORT OF
SHANGHAI GOVERNMENT
CHINESE NAVY
CCPIT SHANGHAI |
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| British Navy destroyer HMS Liverpool visited Shanghai
on 24-28 May 2003. |
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| The visit, hailed as a once-a-decade event for Liverpool
to Shanghai, added a new dimension to the strong sister city links
that has been described by British government as a "excellent model
for sister-city relationship". |
| The first HMS Liverpool was a 40-gun vessel of 681 tons
built on the River Mersey and launched on 19 July 1741. The current
HMS Liverpool is the tenth of the Royal Navy's Type 42 Destroyers
and the seventh ship to bear the name. She was built by Cammell Laird
of Birkenhead and launched on 25 September 1980 by Lady Strathcona,
wife of the then Minister of State for Defence. The vessel carries
the Liver Bird logo and the name of the City. |
| HMS Liverpool's long historical association with the
City of Liverpool makes her visit to Shanghai one of the most important
events of this year's sister city twinning programme of activities.
As a 'Floating Ambassador' HMS Liverpool is carrying the friendship
of the people of Liverpool across the oceans to wherever it sails. |
| Chinalink,
representing Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Chamber of Commerce,
in conjunction with the British Military Attachéç Group Captain Keith
Parkes, Captain of HMS Liverpool Commander Martin Ewence and British
Consul General of Shanghai, Paul Sizeland hosted a number of events
on board the warship. The British Ambassador to China, Sir. Christopher
Hum and the British Maritime Forces Commander Rear Admiral David Snelson
attended part of the schedules. |
| Describing the once in a decade opportunity, the visit
of HMS Liverpool and 280 British Navy officers will not only add a
new dimension in the sister city relationship but also show the support
of the City of Liverpool and UK toward Shanghai and China in their
effort in minimising the impact of SARS. |
| The final confirmation of the HMS Liverpool visit to
Shanghai came on 15 May although the Navy (Group Captain Keith Parkes),
the HMS Liverpool and the British Consulate General in Shanghai had
been keeping Chinalink
/China Affairs Office informed. Chinalink
had earlier committed that it would organise a Liverpool Day as far
as the HMS Liverpool visit to Shanghai is to happen. Through Ian Meadows
OBE the Chairman of Liverpool Chamber, David Henshaw (CEO of City
Council) agreed to make a contribution to the Liverpool Day on HMS
Liverpool. The Shanghai Office of Chinalink
together with our partners in Shanghai has worked through the following
weekends to organise the Sister City Luncheon and Chinalink
cocktail reception. By Wednesday 21 May we have the confirmation of
around 110 civic and business VIPs from Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu
to take part in the Liverpool/Chinalink
Day. Dr. Kegang Wu, Director of Chinalink
& Chief Representative Officer of the Liverpool Chamber Shanghai Office,
flew to Shanghai also in his capacity as Head of China Affairs Office
of the Liverpool City Council to host the events. |
