Motion Against CCP’s ‘Super-Embassy’ Plan in London Passes in Wokingham Council

Plans for a “super-embassy” have raised concerns about the presence of covert overseas police stations, transnational oppression, spy bases, and more.

Wokingham Councilor Andy Ng Siu-Hong (R) moved to oppose the Chinese "super-embassy" plan at his council meeting, and his motion was carried. He is pictured with motion co-sponsor Stephen Conway (L) in the UK on March 20, 2025. Courtesy of Andy Ng Siu-hong

After China’s plans to build a “super-embassy” on the site of the former Royal Mint Court in London triggered protests by thousands of people, Andy Ng Siu-Hong, a former Hong Kong district councilor who is currently a local councilor in Wokingham, England—west of London—introduced a motion against the plan on March 20, and the motion passed.

The term “super-embassy” refers to China’s proposal to build a much larger and more prominent diplomatic complex at the former Royal Mint Court site. This new embassy would far exceed the size of the current Chinese Embassy in the UK, raising concerns among the public.

Ng, a former councilor for the Central and Western District of Hong Kong, resigned in 2021 and emigrated to the UK. In that same year, many other local councilors resigned because they were unwilling to declare their allegiance to the Hong Kong government.

After coming to the UK, Ng ran for election on behalf of the British Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 2024 and was successfully elected as a member of the Wokingham Council.

At the Wokingham local council meeting on the evening of March 20, Ng pointed out that although Wokingham is outside of London, it’s home to many Hongkongers who are strong believers in freedom, democracy, and human rights and are worried about the increasing influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the UK.

He said that the CCP’s “super-embassy” is not just a building but would raise concerns about the presence of covert overseas police stations, transnational oppression, spy bases, insufficient protest space in the vicinity, and UK–China relations.

“Though we are not the minister who makes the final decision, as elected representatives, we have a duty to speak out on the concerns of the people. Becoming the first local council to pass a motion and say ‘no’ to the ‘Chinese super-embassy’ is symbolic,” Ng said.

The motion also mentioned the Feb. 8 protest in which thousands of people gathered outside the former site of the Royal Mint in London. Due to limited space, the crowd spilled out into nearby streets, causing the Tower Bridge to close and affecting several major roads in London. During the rally, some participants were injured, and two people were arrested by the police. This was highlighted as a reason the location should not be used for the new Chinese embassy.

After his speech, Ng received a round of applause and support from some of the councilors present. Councilors Prue Bray and Stephen Conway pointed out that many British citizens are concerned about the impact of the “super-embassy” on British national security and are worried about CCP influence.

The motion passed by a vote using a show of hands. Ng told The Epoch Times that among those present, all LDP councilors and members from the Conservative Party voted in favor, while members from the Labor Party abstained.

The Wokingham Local Council plans to send a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who is responsible for making the final decision on the plan, urging her to consider the concerns of the British public, including the opinions of Wokingham and Hong Kong people across the UK, and to reject the “super-embassy” plan.

After the CCP implemented the National Security Law in Hong Kong in 2020, the UK launched the British National (Overseas) visa program, and many Hong Kong people have immigrated to the UK. According to the British Home Office, more than 176,000 such visa applications were approved from 2021 to 2024, including visa permits outside the UK.