Why an explosive fight erupted over the UK's new Chinese embassy

“The same was suggested about the Chinese embassy in Portland Place when it was acquired in the late 1940s,” he says.

“During the early period of the People’s Republic of China’s existence, Chinese diplomats were frequently shouted at and occasionally spat upon in London. Over time, with UK-China relations normalising and trade contacts improving, such protests faded away. There is no reason to believe that a bigger embassy in the same city would lead to different outcomes.”

However, as Mark Nygate looks out across to the empty space in the heart of his London, he disagrees.

“There will almost certainly be big protests,” he says.

Local government objections to the plan to relocate the Chinese embassy to the Royal Mint Court were overturned by the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. The Foreign Office has raised no objections.

Permission for the new embassy entails the UK government selling the original historic residence in Portland Place. The Chinese government told the BBC that China is working with the UK government through established diplomatic channels and with relevant property professionals and local authorities to ensure that the proposal fits its criteria.

Meanwhile, for Carmen, the issue has wider significance.

“It’s not just about the economy or security, it’s about human rights and the freedom of speech,” she says.

“People in Hong Kong cannot even protest now.”