Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 11, 1997
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke makes sentimental journey to family ancestral village in China

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke concluded a two week Washington state trade, cultural and educational mission today with a short personal visit to his ancestral village in southern China. This is his first ever visit to Jilong, Guangdong Province, birthplace of generations of Lockes, including his 80 year-old father, Jimmy.

"This was a dream come true," Locke said. "We've long talked about being able to all go back to the family village with mom and dad leading the way. Anyone who has traveled to the site of their ancestral roots will understand the personal emotions and anticipation I felt as I connected with the lives of my relatives in Jilong."

Locke began his first International Trade Mission since becoming governor with a stop in Tokyo Oct. 2. He then led an official party of state trade and community representatives to China and Hong Kong. His parents, sisters and brother met him in Hong Kong for the trip to Jilong. The governor's family paid for all of their own expenses.

A highlight of the village visit came when the governor and his wife, Mona Lee Locke, presented a family photo of themselves with their six-month old daughter Emily to his great uncle. The governor's family photo joins dozens of other Locke family photos on the wall of his great uncle's home. Some of the photos date back many decades, including relatives living in China and those who have emigrated.

The governor's father left Jilong for the United States when he was 13 years old. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Jimmy Locke traveled to Hong Kong where he was married in 1947. He last visited Jilong in 1947 when he took his new bride, Julie, home for a wedding banquet before they left for life in the United States.

Governor Locke was born in Seattle, Wash., in 1950, the second of five children. His brothers and sisters are Marion Monwai, Jannie Chow, Rita Yoshihara and Jeff Locke. This was their first visit to their father's birthplace. Locke visited Hong Kong in 1960 when he was ten years old. He visited China in 1991 as a state legislator and in 1995 as King County Executive.

Washington state is a national leader in trade oriented benefits linked to international trade. Export production is the fastest growing sector of the state's economy. One in four jobs is tied to world markets, the highest rate per capita of any state in the nation.

The governor's two-week International Mission was made at the official invitation of the Japanese and Chinese governments The two countries are two of Washington's most important trading partners. The governor's official party included the directors of Washington State Departments of Agriculture and Community, Trade and Economic Development and the Washington China Relations Council.

Japan is Washington's number one export partner, purchasing 22 percent of all state exports for a 1996 total value of $6.5 billion. China is Washington's sixth largest export market for a 1996 value of $1.6 billion. State exports to China increased 39 percent in each of the last two years and account for 13 percent of all U.S. exports to China.

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