The Chinese Communist Party plans to transform the former site of the Royal Mint in London, which they have purchased, into a “super embassy”. The application for this project is expected to yield results next Tuesday, on the 20th. A large group of Hong Kong residents living in the UK and local citizens gathered at the site on January 17th, urging the British Labour government to reject the proposal. Several Members of Parliament were also present to show their support, including Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform Party MP Danny Kruger. The organizers reported an estimated 2,500 people in attendance.
This marks the 9th large-scale protest in the past year against the Chinese Communist Party’s super embassy. In order to maintain order at the scene, the London Metropolitan Police deployed a large number of officers to prevent road blockages. They also distributed leaflets in Chinese to remind citizens to comply with relevant laws regarding public gatherings.
This was the first time Kemi Badenoch participated in the demonstration. She emphasized her support for the people of Hong Kong, mentioning her own experience growing up in Nigeria under a dictatorship. She understands the fear of living under an oppressive government and the fear of speaking out in oppressive conditions, including witnessing journalists being murdered or forced into exile.
Badenoch criticized the current government’s weak stance on China policy, pointing out that building a super embassy at the site is a mistake. She described China (the CCP) as a country that harasses and sanctions British Members of Parliament and citizens, and criticized the CCP for aiding “enemies of the UK” like Russia.
Badenoch reiterated that as the opposition leader, she will fight for freedom and called on the government to halt this decision. She expressed her reluctance to see Members of Parliament monitored within the UK and does not want protesters to be harassed or thrown into the “super embassy”, which she referred to as a “temporary police station”.
Furthermore, Danny Kruger, who switched from the Conservative Party to the Reform Party last year, described the Chinese Communist Party as one of the worst regimes in the world today and urged the British government not to be deceived by them. He believes that the British government turns a blind eye to everything China does in Xinjiang, Africa, and Western countries for the sake of interests, sacrificing domestic industries and causing unemployment, turning the UK into a market flooded with cheap Chinese goods.
Former Hong Kong District Councillor and current Wokingham Town Councillor, Wu Chi Kong, mentioned in his speech that British media previously revealed that the construction of the “super embassy” building had space to house a large number of electronic surveillance devices, just one meter away from London’s financial fiber optic cables. Wu questioned whether, under diplomatic privileges, even if the CCP placed any items in the building, the British police would be unable to search, posing a significant national security threat to the UK. He also questioned whether those rooms would be used to detain Chinese and Hong Kong people exiled in the UK, expressing concerns about the risk of being held in underground basements himself in the future.
Wu Chi Kong urged Hong Kong residents in the UK to take action within their means through demonstrations, letter-writing, voting, and other means to engage in public affairs. He warned that “today it’s the super embassy, tomorrow it could be the BNO”, unjust challenges will follow in succession.
He emphasized that Hong Kong people must continue to speak out on this land, exposing injustices, pushing for public opinion, and further influencing policies.
Former General Secretary of the disbanded Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, Mung Siu Tat, who is wanted by the Hong Kong National Security Agency for a reward of 1 million Hong Kong dollars, spoke at the gathering, stating that there is substantial evidence to show the CCP embassy is a center for gathering intelligence and oppression.
At the same time, he called on the British government to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all of the CCP’s abuses of diplomatic privileges and human rights violations in the past. This is to ensure the safety and freedom of individuals threatened by the CCP in the UK.
He cited an incident a few years ago at the Manchester Consulate where officials assaulted protesters, yet the British government failed to prosecute anyone, demonstrating how the CCP abuses diplomatic privileges. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London has employed agents to monitor and harass overseas dissidents, and the senior manager involved is currently facing legal proceedings under the UK’s National Security Law.
He stated that British Prime Minister Su Gei-yin should take a firm stance and refuse the CCP’s application to build the super embassy.
He further stated that regardless of the outcome of the approval next Tuesday, the fight against CCP authoritarianism is far from over. He strongly believes that Hong Kong people will one day win the democracy and freedom they deserve.
John Cheng, founder of the British Hong Kongers Association, who is also wanted by the Hong Kong National Security Police, attended the gathering and emphasized that this application is not a routine embassy upgrade, but a plan to build the largest Chinese embassy in Europe in a sensitive area near London’s financial district and critical data and financial infrastructure. He criticized the CCP for violating the Sino-British Joint Declaration and eroding Hong Kong’s freedom, as well as coercing and intimidating civilians overseas.
Currently, the British Prime Minister is preparing to visit China for trade and investment discussions. He emphasized that while trade is important, security and integrity are more important. He urged the government not to trade long-term security for short-term convenience and called on the authorities not to approve this plan.