The UK Ministry of Defence building in London. The new Labour government is conducting a fresh review of its relationship with China. (Voice of America/Li Boan)
[People News] The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) plan to build a "super embassy" in London remains a source of controversy. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will decide whether to approve the project based on a report from the planning inspector. In opposition to the plan, multiple Hong Konger groups in the UK, along with representatives from other communities, are calling on the public to take to the streets again this Saturday (March 15). Protesters will return to the Royal Mint Court, the proposed site for the new Chinese embassy, to strongly voice their opposition. As some Hong Kongers were arrested during a previous demonstration, the organizers have arranged for legal support this time and urged participants to remain peaceful, rational, and to follow police instructions. On Friday (March 14), the Metropolitan Police imposed restrictions on the protest, citing limited space for safe demonstrations.
February Protest Gained Momentum
According to Voice of America, despite growing opposition, the UK government has continued to support the CCP’s "super embassy" project. On February 8, thousands of people took to the streets in what became the largest overseas Hong Konger protest in recent years. However, during subsequent planning hearings, the Metropolitan Police continued to back the project, and local councils reversed their stance, no longer opposing the development. Seizing this critical moment before Deputy Prime Minister Rayner makes a final decision, Hong Konger groups in the UK—alongside Tibetans, Chinese dissidents, and other communities—have organized another protest at the Royal Mint Court.
List of MPs Attending Saturday's Protest: No Representatives from the Ruling Labour Party
At least four Members of Parliament are set to attend and speak at the protest, including Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative MP; Luke Taylor, Liberal Democrat MP; Lord Bethell, Conservative peer; and Iain Duncan Smith, the former leader of the Conservative Party, who was present at the last protest. During that event, Blair McDougall, the chair of the cross-party parliamentary group on Hong Kong and a Labour MP, also spoke. However, he is not listed among the attendees this time, nor are there any other MPs from the ruling Labour Party. Additionally, Sir Geoffrey Nice, the former barrister who chaired the Uyghur Tribunal, will be present to show his support.
Kwan Chung-ching, a senior analyst at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), which is coordinating this protest, informed our station that the aim of this protest is the same as the previous one: to once again demonstrate to the government and police that the location cannot accommodate large-scale protests and is unsuitable as the new site for the Chinese embassy. She mentioned that the organizers have recently coordinated with the London police regarding Saturday's protest and have made suggestions based on the experiences from the last protest, but the police's response has left her feeling perplexed.
Organizers: Police Intend to Control Protesters to Remain on the Sidewalk.
Kong Sung-ching stated, "It's quite strange. The police claim they want to control everyone on the pedestrian path, but I fail to understand how they believe they can manage a crowd of over a thousand people in that space. We've mentioned several times, including last time, that there is significant fear among Hong Kong residents regarding police violence, and not everyone speaks fluent English. Yet, the police seem uncertain about their law enforcement strategy. At this point, they haven't communicated to us what restrictions they plan to impose. It's possible that, similar to last time, they might suddenly decide to implement new restrictions, leaving everyone confused and unsure of how to respond."
Shortly after the last protest commenced, the police invoked Section 14 of the UK Public Order Act, instructing demonstrators to "return to the pedestrian path" and warning of potential arrests. Ultimately, two Hong Kong protesters were arrested, with one facing charges and granted bail until their trial in October.
On Friday, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ward of the Metropolitan Police sent a letter to the protesters, notifying them that the police would impose restrictions on the demonstration, citing concerns that "the assembly may cause serious disruption to community life." Under these restrictions, anyone gathering outside the main entrance of the venue or beyond Mansell Street could face arrest. Mansell Street is located adjacent to the Royal Mint, not at the main entrance.
Kong Sung-ching expressed that the police's restrictions are a direct violation of the freedoms of assembly and speech: "They are attempting to confine us to the side of the embassy site, which will be obstructed by a 20-foot high wall. We have faced too many such tactics in Hong Kong and never expected to encounter them again in the UK. This method is a blatant suppression of our freedoms and will only exacerbate the situation."
On-duty Lawyers are Providing Legal Support to Ensure the Safety of Protesters
To safeguard the legal rights of the protesters, the organizers have arranged for on-duty lawyers to offer legal assistance. Kong Sung-ching noted that despite the police imposing restrictions once again, she is not concerned that it will impact the number of participants in the protest.
Kong Sung-ching stated: "I believe the purpose of everyone attending this protest is not to challenge the British police, but to demonstrate that this location is truly unsuitable for a safe protest and should not be chosen as the site for the Chinese Communist Party embassy. The police had previously indicated (before the protest) that the area could accommodate 2,000 people, but after the protest, they changed their stance, claiming it could only hold 500 people. Various Members of Parliament and others have raised this issue, so the police are also expected to revise their position, and we hope to achieve success."
What is Section 14 of the Public Order Act?
According to Section 14 of the UK Public Order Act, if the police believe that a protest or "seriously disrupts public order," they can impose restrictions on the time, location, and scale of the protest, including requiring protesters to remain in a designated area.
Guo Zijian, a member of the Hong Kong Citizens' Representative Assembly, recently held several online legal seminars with Hong Kong lawyers in the UK. These seminars aimed to explain relevant public assembly laws, including Section 14 of the UK Public Order Act and the Police Act 1996, to Hong Kong residents living in the UK. He believes that this initiative will help them understand the differences between UK laws and those related to public security in Hong Kong, as well as clarify local legal boundaries.
Organizer: Adhere to Police Instructions and Save Lawyer Contact Numbers
Guo Zijian highlighted several key points to consider during the Saturday gatherings, emphasizing the importance of participating peacefully and rationally. He warned that failing to comply with police instructions could lead to violations of the Public Order Act: "If a protester is arrested, others should avoid attempting to forcibly rescue that individual. In Hong Kong, people may have a habit of doing this for one another, but in the UK, such actions could result in charges of obstructing police duty or assaulting an officer. Furthermore, participants should be cautious with their language, particularly regarding hate speech related to race, color, and religion; such expressions should be avoided at the gathering."
Reflecting on past experiences, Guo Zijian noted that if any participants are unfortunately arrested, the police will first confiscate the arrested person's mobile phone, but there will be an opportunity to review the phone's contact list afterward. He urged participants to decide in advance whom they would call in the event of an arrest: "The assembly will provide a lawyer's contact number; everyone should save this number in their phone... In case of any unfortunate conflicts or misunderstandings, this number can offer legal support after an arrest."
Support for Hong Kong Residents in the South Has Significantly Increased
The organizers estimate that approximately 4,000 people participated in the last protest, and 鄺頌晴 (Kong Sung-ching) believes that the turnout this time will be similar. As was the case previously, several organizations of Hong Kong residents outside London have arranged chartered buses to attend the rally. Notably, five tourist buses organized by the Greater Manchester Hong Kong community are already fully booked, accommodating nearly 300 people. Additionally, another member of the Citizens' Assembly, 張嘉莉 (Cheung Ka-lai), informed this station that at least 125 individuals from Yorkshire, including 列斯 (Leeds) and 錫菲 (Sheffield), have signed up, with a few spots still available. She urged interested Hong Kong residents to contact her promptly.
Controversy Surrounding the Chinese Communist Party's 'Super Embassy'
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) government plans to construct a 'super embassy' near the Tower of London, which will be ten times larger than the original CCP embassy. Once completed, it will become the largest diplomatic facility of the CCP abroad. However, this plan has encountered significant opposition from various stakeholders, including local residents, police, and intelligence agencies, who are concerned that it could serve as a base for espionage, monitor dissenters, and have a major impact on local traffic and safety. Despite this, the UK government has decided that Deputy Prime Minister 韦雅蘭 (Wey Yalan) will make the final decision on whether to approve the proposal, while both the Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary have expressed their support.
Last year, the London police indicated that the site could not accommodate large-scale protests and opposed the planning proposal. However, earlier this year, the police appeared to reverse their position under pressure from the central government, stating that they no longer opposed the plan.
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