The Chinese are a group with a long history of settling in, or at times just passing through, Newham. In 1881 the census recorded 31 men but no women from China living in West Ham.
By 1891 there were 13 men and the 1901 census recorded none. It is difficult to be certain, but the probability is that the majority of those recorded in 1881 were sailors or lascars, who happened to be in West Ham at the time the census was being recorded.
Since the Second World War Chinese people have been more permanent settlers in Newham. In the 1950s and 1960s the Chinese people that came to Britain were mainly from Hong Kong and tended to be ex-farmers from Hong Kong's 'New Territories'. They came to Britain looking for work and a livelihood. Many made their home in Newham as accommodation was relativity inexpensive and a close proximately to London's Chinatown where they earned their living by working in laundries and Chinese restaurants.
From 1980s onwards, the Newham Chinese Association has noticed a very different pattern of settlers from Hong Kong and they now tend to be better-off and come for political reasons, to avoid the political uncertainty due to the return of Hong Kong in 1997 to the People's Republic of China. Newham Chinese Association and the 2001 census record show that there are now approximately 3000 Chinese living in Newham.
Chinese Lives is the story of Newham Chinese residents, their history, their experiences and their contribution to Newham culture.
