Rayner asks China to explain redacted mega-embassy plans
Angela Rayner gave China two weeks to explain why their plans were corrected for a new Mega Embassy in London.
Deputy Prime Minister residential, communities and the Ministry of Local Government sent a letter requesting more information and requested a response until August 20.
Beijing’s new Embassy plans can pose a risk of espionage – very close to London’s financial zone. Nearby residents are afraid that they will create a risk of security for themselves and attract great protests.
BBC contacted the Chinese Embassy in London to comment.
The BBC understands that a final planning decision on controversial plans will be made until September 9th.
In a letter seen by the PA News Agency, Rayner, who is responsible for controlling planning issues as a housing secretary, asks the planning consultants representing the Planning Consultants representing the Chinese Embassy to explain why the drawings of the planned site have been obscured.
The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also received copies of the letter.
He says that the Ministry of Interior demands a new “hard environment” around the embassy area to prevent “irregular public access” and that it may require more planning.
Organized by some competitors, there are concerns that the Royal Mint Court site can allow the UK to infiltrate the financial system by touching fiber optic cables carrying sensitive data for companies in London, China.
Pro -democracy campaigns from Hong Kong are afraid that Beijing can use the great embassy to harass and even detain them. Last month, England condemned the cash offers from Hong Kong officials for people who helped the arrest of pro -democracy activists living in the UK.
Shadow National Security Minister Alicia Kearns said: “There is no surprise here – when they rushed Labour’s demands for Xi Jinping’s demands for a new embassy, they showed a peace of mind when they came to keep our people safe.
Responding to security concerns at the beginning of this week, the Chinese Embassy said to the BBC that he was determined to encourage the understanding and friendship among Chinese and British peoples, and that the mutual cooperation between the two countries should be developed.
In 2018, China acquired the former Royal Mint Court for £ 255 million. 20,000 square meters, if the complex continues, Europe will be the biggest embassy in Europe.
The plan includes a cultural center and housing for 200 personnel, but in the basement floor, behind the security gates, there are rooms without use defined in plans.
Beijing’s Embassy application was previously rejected by the Tower Hamlets Council in 2022 with security and security concerns.
A month after the worker arrived in power, he re -sent the same application in August 2024.
On August 23, Sir Keir Starmer called Chinese President Xi Jinping for his first talks. Sir Keir then confirmed that Xi brought the issue of embassy.
Since then, Rayner has used the power of the council to dismiss the issue due to the government’s attempts to interact with China after the cooling of relations in the last years of the conservative party administration.
Senior ministers pointed out that they were in favor if small adjustments were made to the plan.
