CHINESE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTION GROUP UK (CCRAG)

8th April 2001
No Chinese link to FMD, Nick Brown tells protesters

Agriculture minister Nick Brown today vindicated the British Chinese community in the foot-and-mouth (FMD) outbreak when he told 800 protesters at Maff headquarters that there was no link between FMD and Chinese catering.

Mr Brown told the crowd of British Chinese and their supporters who had marched from Chinatown:

"I absolutely deplore the racist overtones of some of the reporting. I strongly condemn the unfounded allegations in the media. It is not fair to scapegoat the Chinese community.

"I regret what is being reported. It is not true to say that there is evidence that somehow the foot-and-mouth outbreak in the United Kingdom has anything to do with the Chinese catering business, Chinese restaurants, or anything to do with the Chinese community."

Mr Brown welcomed a delegation from the demonstration who delivered a letter requesting that he:

a) make a statement to exonerate Chinese catering and Chinese food as the source of the current outbreak of foot-and-mouth,

b) make a statement to condemn irresponsible reporting of the press.

b) investigate the source of the allegation and take appropriate action to sanction those responsible.

c) alert the Home Secretary to the increase in abusive harassment of the Chinese since the original story broke in The Times.

Jabez Lam, a protest organiser, said:

"Second-generation Chinese are coming of age. Today's events are the beginning of the recognition that the Chinese community is different from its media stereotype.

"This action was organised within four days. To get such a good respoonse and to get what we wanted has delighted us all. We've seen all sections, young and old, on the street today. This is a vital step in the emergence of the Chinese community into full participation in British society."

The Chinese Civil Rights Action Group UK (CCRAG) which was formed last week in direct response to media reports linking Chinese catering with FMD, is supported by 160 British Chinese associations and groups plus many individuals. Solidarity was shown by support from the Socialist Alliance (SA), the Campaign to Defend Asylum Seekers (CDAS, and the Anti Nazi league (ANL).

Press officer Anna Chen - 07961 144905