We are not trying to justify employing illegal immigrants, but these raids have to be carried out correctly. With many Chinese businesses still suffering from the economic downturn, the Chinese community is very angry over these disruptive and discriminative raids carried out by the immigration enforcement team. They feel they have been victimized and have become easy targets for the UK Border Agency.

Lawrence Cheng, secretary-general of the London Chinatown Chinese Association

Over the past two months, Chinatown has experienced more than 13 raids by the UK Border Agency. All the evidence suggests that these were unusually heavy-handed, discriminatory and showed no respect for either the business owners or workers. The British government seems to respect Chinese people but only as long as they stay in China and not when they arrive in the UK.

Suresh Grover, director of The Monitoring Group, an anti-racism charity in London

I know there are illegal immigrants working in Chinatown restaurants. I think restaurant owners should know and strictly obey the law and check that the people working for them are doing so legally.

Ellen, a British citizen who declined to give her surname

(China Daily 10/24/2013 page12)