Anger boils over in London’s Chinatown as chefs and waiters protest against immigration ‘fishing raids’

Chinese-restaurant staff are going on strike against what they believe are heavy-handed UK immigration raids, one of which left a woman sprawled in the street in front of a van

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A woman (left, in red trousers) is seen on Gerrard Street in Chinatown during a July 5 immigration raid. Photo: YouTube / Ho Yikyee

Published: 10:30am, 23 Jul 2018Updated: 8:45am, 24 Jul 2018

It’s a hot and muggy Saturday afternoon and business is brisk in London’s Chinatown, Europe’s largest.

There are long queues at the Chinese Bakery in Newport Place, a local landmark; a large tour group of teenagers from China passes by, led by a woman carrying a placard with the name of the tour company.

Placards of a different kind are being constructed by volunteers under two white gazebos set up in the square. “No Fishing Raids”, they say. Other volunteers collect signatures and hand out leaflets.

On Tuesday, waiters and chefs in Chinatown’s 100 or so restaurants are downing their menus and cleavers and striking for five hours against what they believe are heavy-handed immigration raids.

From Chinatown, they will march to the Home Office building by the Thames, 2.5km away in Westminster.

London Police with a woman in front of an immigration van on Gerrard Street in London's Chinatown, during July 5 raids. Photo: YouTube

An immigration van appears to strike a woman on Gerrard Street in London's Chinatown, as police push the vehicle back, during July 5 raids. Photos: YouTube

“London’s Chinatown is a vital component of London’s economy and a major tourist and cultural attraction.,” reads a leaflet advertising the stoppage.

“Its members have the right to be treated with respect and dignity and will not tolerate aggressive or discriminatory behaviour from enforcement agencies.”