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A determination on whether to authorize Chinese request for a new substantial consulate in London has been postponed again by the government.

Housing Minister Steve Reed had been expected to determine on the request by 21 October, but the cut-off date has been moved forward to 10 December.

It is the second instance the government has postponed a decision on the contentious location, whose placement has triggered concerns it could present an espionage risk.

A determination had originally been due by 9 September after cabinet members assumed authority of the procedure from Tower Hamlets, the municipal authority, last year.

Security Concerns Brought Up

China bought the site of the suggested recent embassy, at Royal Mint Court, adjacent to the Tower of London, for £255m in 2018. At 20,000 square metres, the suggested development would be the most substantial embassy in Europe if it goes ahead.

The outstanding ruling on whether to approve the recent embassy was previously under intense examination because of apprehensions about the security implications of the plan, including the placement, scale and architecture of the facility.

The property is close to optical fiber lines transmitting transmissions to and from banking organizations in the City of London. Worries have been brought up that Beijing agents could use the location to tap into the connections and eavesdrop.

Latest Changes

Further questions have been highlighted in the past few weeks about the nature of the risk posed by Beijing, following the collapse of the prosecution against two men charged of espionage for China.

The Crown Prosecution Service unforeseeably discontinued prosecutions against government studies analyst Christopher Cash, 30, and university researcher Christopher Berry, 33, last month. Both men deny the claims.

Prior Deferrals

The authorities' first delay was sought by Reed's preceding minister Angela Rayner, after she inquired China to detail why particular spaces within its development papers had been blanked out for "security reasons".

Development advisors employed by the Beijing diplomatic mission had answered that China "does not consider that, as a matter of principle, it is required or fitting to supply full internal layout plans".

Rayner had written back to groups participating in the consultation, including China, the Metropolitan Police and a local residents' association, to provide extended periods to answer to the proposals and placing the time limit forward to 21 October.

Current Situation

Reed, who acquired the residential portfolio following Rayner's departure last month, has now asked for additional time before a final decision requires completion.

In a correspondence examined by media outlets, the accommodation ministry said extra time was required due to the "thorough quality" of replies collected previously.

It stated that it was incapable to determine another time limit for additional feedback until it obtains pending responses from the Diplomatic Service and Interior Ministry.

Planned Amenities

The suggested development would incorporate offices, a substantial underground space, residences for 200 personnel, and a recent underground connection to connect the Embassy House to a distinct structure on the consulate property.

Political Reactions

Beijing's application for the embassy was originally denied by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022 over protection and safety issues.

It reapplied an identical application to the authority in August 2024, one month after Labour came to power.

The Chinese Embassy in the UK has formerly mentioned the fresh facility would enhance "mutually beneficial cooperation" between China and Britain.

In a fresh official communication published accompanying Reed's correspondence detailing his motivations for the most recent postponement, a Chinese official said objections to the location were "either unsubstantiated or unjustified".

Critical Perspectives

The Political Rivals said Administration members should reject the application, and charged them of trying to "silence the warnings about the dangers to state security" created by the diplomatic property.

The Political Party also requested the application to be prevented, urging the government to "resist China".

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Calum Miller said it would be "insane" for cabinet members to allow the embassy development to go ahead, after warnings from the director of MI5 on Thursday about the threat of Chinese espionage.

Security Worries

A ex-top counselor to the former Prime Minister said MI5 and MI6 had warned him China was "seeking to establish a intelligence facility underneath the embassy," when he was employed at Downing Street.

Remarks made on a public affairs broadcast, the consultant said the organizations had advised him that allowing the embassy to be constructed would be "a highly unwise choice".

In his annual speech, the intelligence chief said "Beijing government agents" represented a country protection risk to the UK "daily".

He stated that the UK required to "guard itself strongly" against China, while also being able to "seize the opportunities" from sustaining ties with Beijing.