Flags wave, few protests, for Chinese leader

Hundreds of wellwishers easily outnumbered a handful of protesters when China's second-highest ranked leader, Wu Bangguo, went sightseeing in Auckland yesterday.

Journalists spotted about half a dozen people carrying "Free Tibet" signs outside the Langham Hotel, where Mr Wu met Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard and members of the Chinese community and later had a working dinner with Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Three demonstrators followed him to the Bastion Point memorial to first Labour Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage, where Labour Party president Mike Williams showed off the sights to the 80-strong Chinese delegation.

But there were no protesters at all, and 250 flag-waving supporters from the Chinese community, when Mr Wu, who chairs the National People's Congress - the equivalent of Parliament - toured the Northcote factory of marine navigation equipment company Navman, which recently moved some of its car navigation system manufacturing to China.

"We are glad because he's from our original homeland," said Jia Hua Chen, who retired to Takapuna with his wife in 2000 to join his two sons, who manage a local fish company and an importing business.

"This is the first time a Chinese leader has come to Northcote."

Mrs Yen Shui, who came from Blockhouse Bay to catch a glimpse of Mr Wu, said simply: "My country's chief is coming here. I'm very happy."

Mr Wu and his party leave at 9am today for Malaysia.