Politicians and residents are scheduled to protest China's proposal for a new "mega-embassy" in central London on Saturday, expressing strong opposition due to security concerns. The planned site, located at Royal Mint Court near the Tower of London, reportedly includes 208 secret rooms in the basement and a hidden chamber. Critics, including former Tory ministers Tom Tugendhat and Sir Iain Duncan Smith, fear these secret rooms could be used for detaining dissidents who have sought refuge in Britain. Additionally, the hidden chamber's proximity to crucial data cables for the financial sector has raised alarms.
Local residents are also vehemently opposing the embassy plans. The Metropolitan Police have imposed conditions on the protest, limiting its area and requiring it to end by 5 pm. Ministers are expected to make a decision on the planning permission by January 20, and have stated they cannot comment on the matter until then.
Ciaran Martin, former chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, suggested that British intelligence agencies have likely conducted a thorough review of the plans. He argued that if the government rejects the security services' advice, it undermines their credibility for future assessments. Martin also characterized the "secret rooms" as "classified facilities" essential for foreign and security policy work.