5.5M Chinese could have moved to N. Ireland!

Popeleo

No thread on this ludicrous proposal yet! If it wasn't such a stupid idea, it should probably belong in a politics forum but AH is about right for this one.

In 1983, when the North was far from calm, the UK government was contemplating the future of the 5.5 million citizens of Hong Kong after the 1997 handover of the city back to China.

One proposal was to build a new city for them all in Northern Ireland, between Derry and Coleraine. One mile across Lough Foyle from the Republic. Doubling the population of the whole island in one go, potentially changing Irish politics both North and South forever.

Madness!


http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/03/uk-officials-discussed-resettling-55m-hong-kong-chinese-in-northern-ireland

FionnK86

The chinese, a great bunch of lads!

Boring username

Some is going to fcuking say it. I just know it. You know what I'm talking about.....

Edit: Second reply. Mind numbingly predictable at this stage.

The Moldy Gowl

..... Because that would have happened.

Do you even think?

CiDeRmAn

5.5m Chinese people, the only thing the locals would concerned about is are they Loyalists or Republican.
Imagine their poor children, unable to pronounce "situation" and going from the balmy climes of HK to the rather less so climate of Norn Iron.

keithclancy

Gowlasauras Rex wrote: »

..... Because that would have happened.

Do you even think?

Hmmm .... I guess they thought the same in Palestine.

gandalf

Popeleo wrote: »

No thread on this ludicrous proposal yet! If it wasn't such a stupid idea, it should probably belong in a politics forum but AH is about right for this one.

In 1983, when the North was far from calm, the UK government was contemplating the future of the 5.5 million citizens of Hong Kong after the 1997 handover of the city back to China.

One proposal was to build a new city for them all in Northern Ireland, between Derry and Coleraine. One mile across Lough Foyle from the Republic. Doubling the population of the whole island in one go, potentially changing Irish politics both North and South forever.

Madness!


http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/03/uk-officials-discussed-resettling-55m-hong-kong-chinese-in-northern-ireland

I can only imagine what Paisley would have said about that

daheff

I think it would have been a great idea. :cool:


imagine the cost of it though....5.5m people airfare alone would have cost billions back then.

Speak Now

Pre Father Ted obviously

weisses

At least it would have provided for proper take aways

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

mathie

Noln Ilon

The Backwards Man

Is that not an April fool from the 80s?

Unless they were going to import all the high rises too, no way could you fit that many people between Coleraine and Derry. The infrastructure just isn't there and impossible to provide, Foyle far too shallow for a port for example.

Popeleo

Consider this, all ye Fr Ted quoters -

If there were more Chinese here than Irish, surely they'd be saying "The Irish - a great bunch of lads". In the new majority language of Cantonese, of course.

wakka12

Haha imagine

daheff

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Is that not an April fool from the 80s?

Try an extension of settling the landscape with people loyal to the crown (remember that idea)?

I still think it'd be great to have a large cohort of HK population living up north. It'd be an interesting dynamic to our Island

Kolido

Sure the Island would have toppled over

recyclebin

Please Mrs Thatcher, can we be the 33rd county?

Regards,
John Delaney

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

fleet_admiral

Then in the late 90's Brayjing robbed the idea

justchecked

Just the British penchant for playing quest with real peoples lives shining through yet again.
They've always had a great need for lebensraum.

The Backwards Man

daheff wrote: »

Try an extension of settling the landscape with people loyal to the crown (remember that idea)?

Yeah, because a diplomatic joke that went viral thirty years later is the same thing as the plantations. Edgy.

_Brian

It would have brought an interesting dimension to the whole flag ****e that goes on up there..

Pawwed Rig

Would Hong Kong have been a hurling or football county?

Patser

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

Would Hong Kong have been a hurling or football county?

Hurling. Sure hurls are just big chop sticks really.

paulbok

gandalf wrote: »

I can only imagine what Paisley would have said about that

Ulster says Méiyóu?

Zebra3

Typical arrogance from the British establishment.

NetDabbler

Popeleo wrote: »

One proposal was to build a new city for them all in Northern Ireland, between Derry and Coleraine.

Of course, the Republic will probably ape the British as usual. They'll probably propose building a Chinese city somewhere in the middle of the country. Near Athlone for example...

Fratton Fred

Zebra3 wrote: »

Typical arrogance from the British establishment.

Typical over reaction by the gullible.

wp_rathead

Ya but would they be Catholic Chinese or Protestant Chinese?

Reiver

Cantonese as our majority language, now that would be something else altogether.


Wonder how the Triads and Tongs would have gotten on with the paramilitaries.