The first recorded Chinese in Britain was a scholar called Shen Fu Tsong who visited the court of King James II in the 17th century. Shen spent time cataloguing the Chinese collection in the Bodleian Library, and a portrait of him hangs in the Queen's collection.
The first settlement of Chinese people in the United Kingdom began in the early 19th century in the port cities of Liverpool and London. This was because many of the settlers were originally seamen so naturally gravitated to the port areas. The first Chinatown in Britain was established in the Limehouse area in East London.
However, the largest wave of Chinese immigration consisted mainly of male agricultural workers from Hong Kong and took place during the 1950s and 1960s. Many of them were employed in Chinese restaurants and laundries. By 2004, according to official figures, just under half of Chinese immigrants in employment worked in the distribution, hotel and restaurant industries. There are also Chinatowns in several British cities which have become tourist attractions where Chinese restaurants and businesses predominate, but are not necessarily Chinese residential areas.
Despite restrictions in immigration from current and former British colonies beginning in 1962, significant Chinese migration to Britain has continued, largely by relatives of settled Chinese and those qualified for skilled jobs. Today, a significant proportion of British Chinese are second or third generation descendants of these immigrants. However, the most significant migration from China began in the mid-1980s onwards which coincided with the relaxed Chinese restrictions on emigration, and has continued until today.
The first settlement of Chinese people in the United Kingdom began in the early 19th century in the port cities of Liverpool and London. This was because many of the settlers were originally seamen so naturally gravitated to the port areas. The first Chinatown in Britain was established in the Limehouse area in East London.
However, the largest wave of Chinese immigration consisted mainly of male agricultural workers from Hong Kong and took place during the 1950s and 1960s. Many of them were employed in Chinese restaurants and laundries. By 2004, according to official figures, just under half of Chinese immigrants in employment worked in the distribution, hotel and restaurant industries. There are also Chinatowns in several British cities which have become tourist attractions where Chinese restaurants and businesses predominate, but are not necessarily Chinese residential areas.
Despite restrictions in immigration from current and former British colonies beginning in 1962, significant Chinese migration to Britain has continued, largely by relatives of settled Chinese and those qualified for skilled jobs. Today, a significant proportion of British Chinese are second or third generation descendants of these immigrants. However, the most significant migration from China began in the mid-1980s onwards which coincided with the relaxed Chinese restrictions on emigration, and has continued until today.