Chloe Cheung has told GB News of her fears for the new Chinese mega-embassy in London after being approved by the Labour Government.
Speaking on Britain’s Newsroom, Ms Cheung of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation revealed that the Chinese authorities are “encouraging people to kidnap her” and take her to the embassy, and have placed a HK$1million bounty on her head.
Asked why there was a bounty placed on her head, Ms Cheung explained: “I was born in Hong Kong and I participated in the 2019 pro-democracy protest. I left Hong Kong in August 2020 because I felt unsafe under the Hong Kong National Security Law, and I moved to the UK.
“I do more advocacy because a lot of my Hong Kong friends are still in prison. And in December 2024, the Hong Kong authorities placed a HK$1million bounty on my head, because of the things I did in the UK.”
She added: “They are accusing me of colluding with foreign forces and inciting secession, which means that talking to politicians, talking to journalists, is a crime.
“And it means that if anyone can get me to the embassy, they would get a million Hong Kong dollars straight away. They are trying to encourage people to kidnap me.”
Asked why she is opposing the new “super-embassy” following it’s approval, Ms Cheung said: “I think there’s two things. The first one is that if you consolidate every single diplomat into a massive building right next to Tower Bridge in central London, it would be easier for them to facilitate any transnational repression, spying or surveillance work.
“And I think the second thing that makes me more concerned is that the British Government’s position towards China is now saying that they are willing to sacrifice the safety of UK residents or Hong Kong activists for trade deals with China. And I think that’s more concerning.”
Chloe Cheung has told GB News she fears being ‘kidnapped’ and brought to the new Chinese embassy following Labour’s approval
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GB NEWS
Asked if Sir Keir Starmer’s upcoming visit to China to secure more trade deals is one of the main reasons they approved the embassy plans, Ms Cheung agreed: “I think that’s exactly what’s driven the embassy decision.
“But I think the main thing is that in doing trade deals with China, it’s not just about how much Britain can get out of it, but also the consequences that go with the trade deals.
“For example, you will be more dependent on China. China would steal your intellectual property, etc. There are lots of consequences along with those trade deals, and I’m not sure whether Keir Starmer has thought of that.”
Asked whether she believes the UK has become “too naive” to the threats posed by the Chinese Government, she told GB News: “I think they are too naive. I think the Labour Government doesn’t know how to deal with an authoritarian regime.
The site of the proposed new Chinese embassy on the site of the former Royal Mint in Tower Hamlets | PA
“They never play by the rules, they always violate the law, the rules, and they just do whatever they want. They always weaponise whatever they have for their agenda. And I think Britain must realise that.”
Pressed on what her friends in prison were convicted of, Ms Cheung revealed: “So my friend was prosecuted under illegal assembly, it means that he participated in the protest. That’s it.
“I think he’s in prison for like, four years or five years now.
“And I can’t really say who he is, but he is now in prison because he waves a flag, he wears a protest T-shirt, and that’s what the Hong Kong authorities said.”
Ms Cheung told GB News that she has to carry ‘self-protection devices’
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GB NEWS
Noting the backlash from local residents and their judicial review against the Government, Ms Cheung said: “I wish the Government would revoke this decision, and it’s good news about the fundraising of the judicial review.
“More than 3,000 people donated and the local residents have raised more than £145,000, and we will now proceed with the judicial review.”
Asked what measures she takes to protect herself in the city amid the threat of the Chinese state, Ms Cheung concluded: “I have to look over my shoulder all of the time.
“I have to also bring self-protection devices with me, because the UK police can’t do anything to protect me.”