Letter of Concerns presented to Tony Lloyd MP

23 April 2001

Members of the Chinese Community in the Northwest with to communicate their outrage to the the government at its apparent use of press influence to disseminate false rumours on the origin of the foot and mouth epidemic which has cast a shadow over the entire Chinese community in the UK and caused damage to business and community relations.

They wish to remind the government that Chinese restaurants and takeaways have formed a welcome addition to many small urban and rural communities as well as in cities and are reliant on the goodwill of those communities for their survival. The whole of the Chinese community feels incensed by the seemingly calculated diversion created by the media who claim their source was the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF).

Up and down the country there have been reports of violence and physical abuse as a direct result of this media insult. The safety of the Chinese community has been threatened by these reports. We call upon the Home Secretary to let all the police forces in the country know of this threat and to take steps to ensure that reports of intimidation of this nature are attended to urgently.

We welcome the statement from Mr Nick Brown (Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Food) exonerating the Chinese catering Community from such allegations. We await the outcome of the investigation by Mr Brown into reports suggesting the media obtained their information from MAFF. We invite you to condemn the irresponsible media reporting and we would be grateful if you could reflect the concerns of the Chinese community in the Northwest to the Prime Minister for his attention and his assistance.

Signed,

Chair, Chinese Business Association.
cc. John Smith, Deputy Lord Mayor of Manchester