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17 Chinatown businesses are scheduled to be evicted in 2005 to make room for a Trocadero style shopping mall. Developer Rosewheel Ltd has struck a deal with Westminster Council to purchase the property at Sandringham Newport and has served eviction notices to those businesses on the property.
Additionally, the Chinese pagoda feature on the property is expected to be removed entirely, or moved indoors. The pagoda is a significant feature that the Chinese community relies on to bring good luck and protect Chinatown. Although the developer suggested that the pagoda can remain if it is moved indoors, this will effectively strip the pagoda of its value. According to Chinese customs, a pagoda must be situated outdoors in order to protect the community. Finally, rent prices is expected to increase 200% to 500% once the new shopping mall is installed, likely kicking off a trend of exploding rent prices for all of Chinatown. This may be the beginning of the end for Chinatown. Surprisingly, Westminster Council and Rosewheel did not consult the Chinatown community on any of these actions. Leaders of the London Chinatown Chinese Association are livid and now, together with Min Quan, a Chinese civil rights organisation, and other members of the Chinese community, they have formed a committee and launched the ‘Save Chinatown’ campaign. Committee members were elected on 24th November. At the election meeting, members of the community vented their anger at Rosewheel and Westminster Council. A member of Westminster Council, David Tang, who acts as the liaison between the council and the Chinese community attended the meeting and stated, ‘I was not told of this action before it was approved.’ Things became heated when Tang suggested to the attendees that the best way to resolve this is diplomatic discussions with Westminster Council. Jabez Lam, head of Min Quan, responded, ‘The Chinese community has always been soft. We were diplomatic when issue arose. We can no longer be soft.’ David Suen, a consultant formerly employed by Westminster Council to conduct a study on issues that affect the Chinese community, was dismissed earlier in the year after the study highlighted major concerns of the community regarding rent prices and fear of developers. Almost 6 months later, the study still has not surfaced. Members of the community believe Westminster Council deliberately withheld such information from Tang and dismissed Suen in order to ensure that the deal with Rosewheel went through smoothly. The Save Chinatown Campaign is in full swing, as evident by the large ‘Save Chinatown’ banners and the leafleting all over Chinatown. The dragon has awakened. |
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