Hackers, Secret Cables and Security Fears: The Explosive Fight Over China's New Embassy in the UK
The Chinese government has proposed building a new embassy in London, which would be one of the largest in Europe. But not everyone is happy with the idea.
Carmen Lau, 30, fled Hong Kong in 2021 as pro-democracy activists were being arrested. She argues that the UK should not allow China's "authoritarian regime" to have its new embassy in such a symbolic location.
"I've never been this close," admits Carmen. "We are outside an imposing structure that was once home to the Royal Mint and which China hopes it can develop into a new mega-embassy in London, replacing the far smaller premises it has occupied since 1877."
The building is ringed with CCTV cameras too.
"I've never been this close," says Carmen. "We are outside an imposing structure that was once home to the Royal Mint and which China hopes it can develop into a new mega-embassy in London, replacing the far smaller premises it has occupied since 1877."
The plans had previously been rejected by the local council, but the decision now lies with the government - and senior ministers have signalled they are in favour if minor adjustments are made to the plan.
Steve Tsang, a political scientist and historian who is director of the SOAS China Institute, says he can see why people from Hong Kong, or certain other backgrounds, may be uncomfortable with the new embassy.
"The Chinese government since 1949 does not have a record of kidnapping people and holding them in their embassy compounds," says Tsang. "But some embassy staff would be tasked with monitoring Chinese students and dissidents in the UK and they'd also target UK citizens, such as scientists, business people, and those with influence, to advance China's interests."
The Chinese embassy told the BBC it "is committed to promoting understanding and the friendship between the Chinese and British peoples and the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Building the new embassy would help us better perform such responsibilities."
Some opponents fear that the Royal Mint Court site could allow China to infiltrate the UK's financial system by tapping into fibre optic cables carrying sensitive data for firms in the City of London.
"It is perfectly possible that cables could be tapped with devices that would capture passing information - and that this would be almost impossible to detect," says an official with security experience in former US president Joe Biden's administration.
But, he argues that China may not be inclined to do this because it has other ways of hacking into systems.
Lord Peter Ricketts, a former diplomat who chaired the UK's National Security Council, advises prime ministers on global threats, stresses that the country's relationship with China is complex.
"There are acute dilemmas, and there are choices to be made, whether to privilege the 30, 40 or 50-year relationship with China, which an embassy, I guess, would symbolise. Or whether to give priority to the short-term security threats, which are no doubt real as well,"
The decision on the new embassy is a contentious one, with some arguing that it will bring economic benefits while others fear it could compromise national security.
Will the UK's government make the right decision for its citizens?