EXCLUSIVE: Hong Kong exile with £95,000 bounty on her head blasts Government for waving through controversial plans despite mounting security fears

16:30, Tue, Jan 20, 2026 Updated: 16:35, Tue, Jan 20, 2026

Chloe Cheung Hong Kong activist at Westminster

Cheung blasts embassy approval as wrong (Image: Ian Vogler )

The Government is prioritising a trade deal with China over the safety of UK residents by allowing the construction of a mega-embassy in central London, critics have warned. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Express after a press conference in Westminster, Chloe Cheung, who has been exiled from Hong Kong and is subject to a HK$1million (£95,000) bounty by Chinese police, blasted Labour's approval of the plans as enabling interference and intimidation of UK residents.

It comes after the Government waved through plans to allow the construction of a so-called "mega-embassy" in the heart of London, despite mounting fears that it could pose a significant threat to national security. Speaking to the Express, she said that the Government's decision had made her "angry and disappointed", adding that it "clearly shows that the Government has prioritised trade deals and their relationship with China on top of the safety of UK residents".

Ms Cheung, 20, added: "It is unacceptable, given how China has treated the people of Britain, including putting bounties on UK activists' heads, on sanctioning British MPs, stealing Britain's intellectual property, and dominating the supply chain with their cheap slave labour in China."

The mega-embassy will be guarded by Chinese police and will reportedly cover the site of ancient UK church ruins. Ms Cheung said that the presence of the embassy means that "people like me will never be able to visit these sights of UK heritage. I know that if I go in, I will never come out."

Born in Hong Kong, the pro-democracy campaigner first got involved in activism during the 2019 protests. She witnessed extensive police brutality, including an officer standing on a protester's neck. She now lives in the United Kingdom and is not allowed to return to Hong Kong.

She blasted the Government's approval of the mega-embassy, saying: "I think it is completely wrong for the government to give the mega-embassy as a reward, or as a condition for them to go to China. The condition should be freeing British citizen Jimmy Lai, should be lifting sanctions and bounties."

Despite extensive security concerns, including the embassy being directly adjacent to a critical financial communications cable in the centre of the city, the Government allowed the planning application today. Sir Keir Starmer is due to head to Beijing next week as he attempts to firm up relations with China.

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Ms Cheung called for the Government to "put China on the foreign influence registration scheme" so they can "monitor their actions and work in the UK".

Speaking at the time of the announcement that approval had been given to the embassy, security minister Dan Jarvis said that security services had been "integral" to the approvals process and that he was "content any risks are being appropriately managed".