China wants tunnel, basement rooms at planned London ‘mega-embassy’

An architect working on China’s controversial plans for a new ‘mega-embassy’ in London has revealed some of the details of the project, including a tunnel connecting two of the former Royal Mint buildings, basement rooms and accommodation for hundreds of staff.

Plans submitted to a government inquiry indicate large-scale remodeling of the buildings on the former Royal Mint site, including a large basement area with a security airlock for vehicles, suites of basement rooms and a new tunnel connecting two of the existing buildings.

“The basement … will be reconfigured to provide support spaces to the embassy functions on the floors above,” he said. “These will consist primarily of facilities to support the catering of events.”

Changes will be made for “the provision of necessary security required for the embassy use,” Ulmer told Planning Inspector Claire Searson as part of a 10-day inquiry into the plan.

The plans show a large basement with a security airlock, with access to two suites of unlabeled rooms, one via the new tunnel.

But political scholar Benson Wong said the use of basement facilities for espionage-related activities was highly likely.

“Underground tunnels can effectively prevent host country security forces from conducting surveillance of foreign diplomatic missions to collect intelligence or carry out wiretapping,” Wong said. “This means the embassy can carry out any espionage or intelligence work in a secure environment.”

“If the Labour government does nothing and allows the new Chinese Embassy to take liberties, I think the impact could be disastrous,” Wong said.

The project plans also include a formal entrance hall with ‘screening facilities’ for diplomatic visitors, a cultural exchange center and a ‘heritage interpretation center’ and conference and exhibition facilities, Ulmer told the inquiry.

A new visa application center is also planned, along with “student service” and “business services” facilities, he said.

The outdoor space includes plans for a courtyard garden with increased biodiversity and “Chinese influences,” Ulmer said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.