Opponents of a planned Chinese 'mega-embassy' in London have launched a crowdfunding campaign to finance legal action against the development, which they claim poses a threat to national security. The proposed site, located near the Tower of London on the grounds of the old Royal Mint, was previously blocked by the last Conservative government on security grounds. However, the current Labour administration, which seeks closer ties with Beijing, is expected to approve the plans.
The campaign, organised by Mark Nygate, had raised £29,000 as of last night. 'Every donation brings us closer to stopping this,' Nygate said. Over 100 families living near the development are seeking funds to pay for a judicial review. The government has admitted it has not yet seen the full plans for the site.
If approved, the embassy would become the largest in Europe, with accommodation for more than 200 diplomats and intelligence officers. The development is located on the site of a former Barclays trading floor. A nearby tunnel has carried fibre optic cables under the Thames since 1985, and the Bank of England has highlighted risks to nearby sensitive financial centres.
Luke de Pulford, of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance On China, criticised the situation, saying: 'The job of defending UK interests has been left to a group of residents.' The campaign continues to seek donations to fund the legal challenge.
