Unique IDAG-0179DescriptionIn 1983 Lord Mayor Doug Sutherland had a meeting with Dr P Hing and Mr H Kwok to discuss the possibility of a sister city relationship between Sydney and Guangzhou (Canton). That year the Lord Mayor wrote to the Consul General of the People's Republic of China suggesting the establishment of a relationship and on 8 January 1985 received a letter from the Mayor of Guangzhou and the Consul General advising that the Chinese government had approved of the relationship.
On 24 June 1985 Council approved in principle of the establishment of a sister city relationship and on 12 May 1986 the Friendship City Proclamation between the Cities of Guangzhou and Sydney was signed by the respective Lord Mayors.
On 10 November 1987, Council resolved that a Sister City Committee be established to further the relationship with the City of Guangzhou. The first meeting was held on 3 May 1988, chaired by the Chief Commissioner Sir Eric Neal.
At this meeting Mr John Collins, President of the State Chamber of Commerce was elected Chairman; Peter Larsen, Manager Asia International Services Westpac Banking Corporation, and Dr Kevin Sheridan, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, were elected Vice Chairmen; and John Randall, Director of Civic and Public Affairs, Sydney City Council, was elected Secretary and Treasurer.
The main function of the Committee was to foster commercial and cultural contacts.
Attendance at meetings declined and at the meeting held on 7 February 1989 it was suggested that meetings be held on an as required basis to discuss specific matters.
There were no further meetings until the 18 June 1993, when the Committee was reestablished. At this meeting the following committees were established: a General Committee, a Management Committee, Commerce and Trade Sub-Committee, Cultural and Education Sub-Committee, Tourism and Sport Sub-Committee, and a Fundraising Social and Membership Sub-Committee. Sir William Keys was elected Chairman, Ms Jennifer McKay Deputy Chairman, and Mr Stuart Barnes Secretary.
(Sources: CRS 326: Y05-02480, C07-00028)CreationResolution of Council 10 November 1987
Start date3rd May 1988End date3rd May 1988Relationship legacy dataRELATED TO: Sydney City Council OR-0001 (03/05/1988)
RELATED TO: Mayoralty / Lord Mayoralty FN-0023 (03/05/1988)
RELATED TO: External committees FN-0028 (03/05/1988) Source System ID179
Sydney/Guangzhou Sister City Committee [AG-0179]. City of Sydney Archives, accessed 20 Apr 2024, https://archives.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/62633
