Chinese Consulate row: Belfast residents urging government action over wall

Regular protests have been taking place at the Malone Road/Adelaide Park site both during and after the construction of a large boundary wall that was erected without planning permission.

When Belfast City Council took the matter to court in an attempt to halt the building work, a judge agreed with the Chinese government officials that their actions were protected by diplomatic immunity.

The consulate itself, based at MacNeice House, is in a listed building dating back to 1889, but trees around it are also protected by conservation area status.

The consulate has defended the substantial work project, saying the wall has been designed to meet its security needs, as well as respecting the character of the surrounding neighbourhood.

Resident’s spokesperson Martin McBurney said the two-way entrance gate in Adelaide Park is of particular concern – and believes roadway visibility issues would have prevented approval being granted on safety grounds under normal circumstances.

“The situation with the new entrance is that there are problems with sight lines, so therefore it is unsafe,” he said.

“It is a listed building and it is in the conservation area, and they now have a two-way system in and out of this new entrance.”

Mr McBurney said he understands the Chinese Consulate has now applied for retrospective planning permission for the additional entrance/exit.

“We have had protests throughout July and August, but the pressure now has to come from the Executive Office at Stormont or the Foreign Office,” he said.

Residents been left angered by the lack of action to prevent building materials being delivered to the site when it became apparent that the wall was being built without planning permission.

“In the meantime, the Chinese worked seven days a week on site, from 7.30 in the morning until nine or 10 o’clock at night,” Mr McBurney said.

“Myself and other residents have continually contacted Belfast City Council about this, but we got very little reaction. Their position was that this was an enforcement case that they were not prepared to discuss it with anybody for legal reasons...and that went on for months.”

• In June, a High Court judge refused to order a halt to the unauthorised building work.

City Council representatives sought an injunction amid claims it was a risk to public safety.

But Madam Justice McBride rejected the legal bid after ruling that the Chinese Consul General in Belfast, Madame Zhang Meifang, is protected by immunity.

“The works that have been commissioned [by her] are being done on behalf of the Chinese state,” the judge held.

“Diplomatic immunity does not mean the person is not acting unlawfully, it just means she has immunity from the jurisdiction of this court.”

Belfast City Council in legal action to stop wall

Diplomatic immunity means court can’t stop Chinese wall

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