Ahead of the London mayoral election, Chinese residents shared their opinions as the campaign entered its final push.
Over 100,000 people of Chinese ansestry live in the capital, with Chinatown near Leicester Square acting as a famous central point for the community.
Due to fluctuating UK-China relations, many Chinese people we spoke to in Chinatown were cautious about discussing politics.
Mary, 60, is a Malaysian woman who has worked for a Chinese bakery shop for the past 20 years.
She hoped whoever wins the race for Mayor of London can improve safety in Chinatown.
Mary claimed that pickpocketing and theft have been long-term issues in Chinatown.
She said: “I recently saw the owners of the Chinese supermarket next door chasing two pickpockets who had stolen goods from the supermarket.
“Unfortunately, the thieves ran away too fast.”
Lok, 80, is originally from Hong Kong and has lived in London for more than 50 years.
He said: “I don’t trust any political parties due to the current economic situation in the UK, where the inflation is high and many local governments in the UK went bankrupt.
“I miss the Margaret Thatcher era when she and her Conservative Party were tough enough to handle the famous 1984 Miners Strike.”
The Chinese community expressed a range of opinions about the election, which extended beyond Chinatown in London.
Jane, 34, is a construction designer, originally from China, who has lived in London for 15 years.
Jane said: “I voted for the Labour Party, I think the Conservatives are in favour of the rich and upper class.
“I think it’s important for the next elected leader to prioritise practical measures that benefit Londoners, such as reducing tube fare prices and improving the WiFi coverage at London underground stations.”
Carolina, 19, is originally from Macau and currently works for a Chinese dessert shop in London.
He had no preference for a mayoral candidate, but is instead focused on national education issues with a general election potentially next year.
Carolina said: “I don’t believe that studying Maths at A-level is necessary for everyone.
“What is the point of learning Maths if someone wants to study history at the university?
“This policy is impractical.”
Feathered image by Anna Yifeng Wang
