Protesters rally against Chinese embassy in Tower Hamlets

Two people were arrested as over a thousand protesters turned up on Saturday to oppose a new Chinese embassy at the former Royal Mint in Tower Hamlets.

Two people were arrested on Saturday 8 February as over a thousand protesters rallied outside the former Royal Mint next to the Tower of London, the proposed new site for China’s embassy in London.

Protesters oppose the Chinese embassy moving to the old Royal Mint site in Tower Hamlets. Placards held by protesters cautioned against the Chinese Embassy move fearing threats to free speech, Chinese spying, and transnational repression.

Many residents living on land owned by the Chinese government next to the proposed embassy oppose the move.

The protest was organised by 24 groups representing Hong Kongers, Taiwanese, Uyghurs, and Chinese dissidents.

 While a range of people attended, a majority were Hong Kongers. Some had travelled to London on coaches from elsewhere in the UK to attend.

Organisers estimated 4,000 people turned up to the demonstration, which took place on Saturday 8 February from 2 pm to 4 pm. 

Various Hong Kong flags were hoisted by protesters, including the Black version of Hong Kong’s flag and the flag of British Hong Kong. Other protesters flew the flag of Tibet and East Turkestan, the far west region of China where Uyghurs live.

Amongst the sea of flags, Fred (who wished to be known by his first name) flew a Union Jack. Originally from Hong Kong, he moved to the UK two years ago. He explained: ‘I am from Hong Kong, the Chinese government have captured Hong Kong, and that’s the reason I had to flee my birthplace and come to England. I fear they [China] will come to my new home.

‘We know history, it is our obligation to tell people here what could happen.’

He feared the embassy would be used for spying, and hoped the protest would encourage the Labour government not to approve planning permission.

The space outside the old Royal Mint was already crowded shortly before the protest was meant to start at 2 pm. As more protesters arrived, the space on the pavement outside the former Royal Mint on both sides of the road became increasingly full.

The protest officially began with the introduction of speakers including several MPs. Robert Jenrick, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, said in his speech: ‘we do not want this great historical building behind us, in this historic location, we do not want this to become a mega embassy of the Chinese communist party.’

While most of the protest was peaceful there were two arrests.

As more protesters continued to arrive, attendees at the back moved into the street pushing past metal barriers set up by police. Tower Bridge, East Smithfield Road, A1210, and the A100 were closed as protesters occupied the street.

Police started ordering protesters back onto the pavement stating that Section 14 of the Public Orders Act was in effect. If people did not move, they would be arrested.

Despite the warnings, with so many people present protesters remained on the street. When one woman was arrested and pulled away by police, fellow protesters who ran to the incident were pushed out of the way by police, with one protester being thrown to the ground.

Protesters quickly surrounded the police van, linking arms and preventing the vehicle from driving away while chanting for the police to release the arrested person. 

Clashes broke out as police pushed protesters back away from the van. A second protester was arrested, while another protester collapsed and was attended by medics.

The police van finally managed to drive away with the two arrested protesters, and police re-opened Tower Bridge and East Smithfield Road in one direction.

Later in the protest, a second protester collapsed and was evacuated in an ambulance.

At 4 pm, organisers from the stage announced the protest was ending and told people to go home. Police ordered all remaining protesters to leave or face arrest.

The Chinese government bought the old Royal Mint site in Tower Hamlets in 2018 to be redeveloped into their new UK embassy. The purchase made the Chinese government the leaseholder of around 100 homes.

In December 2022 Tower Hamlets Council voted to refuse the redevelopment of the site into the new Chinese Embassy. 

In December 2024 the Council voted again to deny planning permission for the redevelopment citing ‘concerns over the impact on resident and tourist safety, heritage, police resources and highway safety’. An assessment that seems proven to be true by the protest on Saturday.

However, two months previously, in October 2024, Secretary of State for Housing Angela Rayner ‘called in’ the decision, which means the central government will make the final decision to approve the plans even if the Council votes.

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