A Chinese restaurateur, multi award-winning community leader and philanthropist from Birmingham joined forces with the local community, councillors and business representatives to wish the Chinese Birmingham community a happy Chinese New Year at a special drinks reception with special guest the Mayor of West Midlands Andy Street CBE.  Held on 22nd January at the Chung Ying Restaurant in Birmingham Chinatown the event was packed with community leaders wanting to hear how Andy Street had got o n when he went to China to meet potential gigafactory investors as part of the West Midlands plans to build a major battery production in the West Midlands. 

  James Wong, Chairman of Southside BID and the Chinese Festival Committee said "Following on from previous years, Chinese New Year 2020 will be bigger and better than ever.  With so many different performances and activities going on there`s something for everyone.  Southside is a melting pot of different cultures and backgrounds which makes it such a great place to host our annual event and I can`t wait to share our rich heritage with the rest of the city for a jam-packed weekend of celebrations".

  James Wong is also  Managing Director of the Chung Ying Restaurant Group, winner of Businessman of the Year 2016, Brummie of the Year 2017, Points of Lights Winner 2018 and, in 2019, winner of the Community Excellence Awards at the Nachural Summer Business Awards held at Wolverhampton Racecourse to celebrate the achievements of individuals and companies across the West Midlands.  In accepting his latest award James said, "I want to dedicate this award to the Birmingham Chinese Community for their continual support".  

In  2018 James was also awarded further recognition for being a community champion at the Birmingham Events and Conference Centre. Birmingham Chinatown Lions presented James a further award in recognition for Outstanding Service to the Community.   

James Wong is also the philanthropist behind the Chinese Community Hub in Southside in Thorp Street which aims to unite the Chinese community and supply outreach services to people of all ages.  It offers a space for elderly people to congregate, meet others and take part in activities as well as providing lounge areas for staff working in the area to come and relax during their breaks. 

  Born in Birmingham, James returned to his family`s native Hong Kong aged 4 but returned 3 years later when Chung Ying was established by his mother and father.  It was the first Chinese restaurant in Birmingham.  

As well as being passionate about food James is also heavily involved with community work.  As Chairman of the Chinese Festival Committee he is also responsible for organising the Mid Autumn Festival.  He was also the chair of the committee that bought Cultures of China, Festival of Spring , a world-renowned cultural show from China, to Birmingham for the first time. 

  "I am proud to be a Brummie" he said.  "I was raised, studied, worked and lived in Birmingham for most of my life.  I am a Brummie.  Birmingham is my home.  I am Chinese.  Cantonese is my mother tongue.  I am also English and a true Brummie.  I am also a fervent Birmingham City fan.  The name of my restaurant is Chung Ying.  This word is important.  The word "Chung" means China.  The word "Ying" means England.  These two magical words inform all of my community work to bring the community together.  Chung was also the name of my father and Ying was the name of my mother."  

James Wong is also the governor of the Overseas Chinese Association School, patron of the Chinese Community Centre Birmingham and heads the committee for the Chinatown Arch Project.  James donates much of his resources and time to local charities and, in particular, the Chinese community where each month around 40 elderly Chinese are invited to dine for free at his restaurant.  During the festival period it is perfectly normal to see 300 elderly Chinese people dining for free at the Chung Ying Restaurant.  

He is dedicated and proud to be continuing his family`s hard work for the Chung Ying restaurant Group and the local Chinese community.  He is a loving husband and father who simply wants to bring people together through food. 

"Happy New Year, Birmingham" says James Wong "or, as we Cantonese people say it in Birmingham "Kung Hei Fat Choi"."