ABSTRACT
The Chinese community is the third largest ethnic group in Britain after those of Caribbean and South Asian origin (1991 Census). They also represent the oldest Chinese community in Europe with the first arriving as early as the eighteenth century as labourers and sailors in the ports of Liverpool and London. It has often been said that the most visible Chinese in this country are largely involved in the fast food sector and, although many are publicity averse, household names like Ken Horn and Kenneth Lo made their living as Chinese chefs in catering before their eventual fame as celebrity chefs. Likewise, the British penchant for ethnic foods shows little signs of abating. Recent consumer surveys indicate that Chinese food is preferred above all other types of food in Britain and that today, there are at least 3,000 Chinese restaurants and 9,000 Chinese take-aways in Britain. What led the Chinese in this country to concentrate their activities in Chinese catering and related distributive trades?
