China's super message in London causes fears among residents

China's super message in London causes fears among residents

near London's best known sights could soon begin a new chapter of diplomatic relationships. Residents of the Cartwright Street may have to adjust to the balconies of Chinese embassy employees if the plans for a new “super message” in the area become reality.

The plans for the new message

China actively follows the development of its new diplomatic location on the Royal Mint Court, a large property in the heart of London, near the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. The imposing building, which is currently empty, used to be the production facility for British coins. If the proposal is approved, China plans to invest several hundred million dollars into the redesign of the building in order to make it the largest message in Europe. China acquired the historical property in 2018 for around $ 312 million.

concerns of the residents

The plans have triggered concern about possible espionage and worried the residents in the area who fear for their personal security. London is a popular destination for many who emigrate from the former British colony of Hong Kong, which is now a half-autonomous city in China and has experienced a hard oppression of Dissens in the past five years. Barry, an insurance broker from the Royal Mint Court area, expressed this concerns and compared the Chinese takeover of the site with the sale of the crown jewels by the British government.

political decisions and concepts

After long political arguments, Angela Rayner, the British Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Housing, will be expected to make a final decision on the controversial plans by September 9th. In a surprising step, Rayner China gave two weeks last week to explain why parts of the planned plan were blackened for the extensive embassy site. This period runs until August 20th.

fears in front of a "gentle border"

inhabitants of a apartment block in the western Cartwright Street could soon live in the immediate vicinity of the living quarters of the embassy employees. Planned balconies for the diplomatic personnel would be visible from the back windows of the block. The Royal Mint Court Residents ’Association, which represents around 300 people in the neighborhood and has been fighting against the plan for years, expresses concerns how China could exercise his power as a landlord after building the message. Mark Nygate, treasurer of the association, emphasizes that the residents are afraid of arbitrary searches by their Chinese landlords.

Risks of Chinese influence

In the meantime, protesting and human rights groups fear that the new embassy building enable spy and could make it easier for the "long arm" legislation of Beijing, which is in danger of opponents of the Chinese government in the United Kingdom. A resident near the embassy area emphasized that the plans should not be approved, and expressed concerns about the human rights situation in Hong Kong.

mutual perspectives on investments

However, there are also voices that dismiss the fears before spy as exaggerated. Mark Lahiff, a local real estate developer who is responsible for a subsidiary of the Malaysian IJM, spoke out in February at a government hearing for the establishment of the message. In his opinion, the Chinese investment pressure in one of the poorest districts of London would be very positive for the region. Lahiff argues that the property that has been empty since 2008 urgently needs revitalization to bring economic and social advantages.

But Nygate rejects the idea that the Chinese investments of the area would benefit and fear that the conversion of the Royal Mint Court could go into a message at the expense of residents currently living there. "I am against the message from the start," said Nygate. "Ultimately, it's all about prestige because they (the Chinese) want to exceed the American message."