This report comes from the ham and High Newspaper(North London)
Barnet Chinese under
attack in wake of SARS
By Carmen Lichi
 carmen.lichi@hamhigh.co.uk
RACIST attacks on Barnet’s Chinese community have soared in the wake of the worldwide SARS outbreak.
Around 17 cases, including verbal and physical attacks on schoolchildren, customers, and workers have been reported since the killer flu bug erupted in the Far East two months ago.
Concerned town hall officers say the incidents are increasing week on week, in spite of only a handful of cases of Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome being confirmed in Britain.
Alarmed officials called a meeting on Tuesday with Chinese community and medical representatives and police officers. They have also launched a hotline for victims to report racist attacks.
Vice chairman of the North London Chinese Community Association John May said: “Chinese people are generally cautious about reporting incidents to the police, but the Met have been fantastic and we are urging people to report cases so that police can act swiftly.”
He said recent incidents included:
o A petrol station cashier who refused to serve an asthmatic Chinese woman and shouted at her to put her money down and leave.
o A Barnet car dealer who refused to serve a Chinese woman. She covered her mouth with her hands when she saw her and made another salesperson serve the customer.
o A motorist who hurled rubbish and shouted abuse at a group of Chinese students walking past.
o A group of schoolchildren who taunted a Chinese girl when she coughed.
o People shouting abuse at Chinese passengers on a tube.
Mr May, who is English and is also Barnet Council’s Community Engagement Manager, added: “These incidents have happened to people I know and they have really shaken the community. Much as racists took September 11 as a licence to be anti-Muslim, the SARS outbreak has given racists an excuse to carry out actions against Chinese people.”
He added that custom had dropped by up to 50 per cent at some Chinese restaurants in Barnet: “I don’t know if you can call that racism, but it certainly shows that the public have a misguided notion about catching SARS in the Chinese community and in crowded places.”
Recent census figures show there are 6,379 Chinese residents in Barnet, the largest Chinese population of any London borough.
The council achieved beacon status for “Community Cohesion” this year, recognising its work with different communities within the borough.
Council leader Victor Lyon said: “There is no significant risk of catching SARS from our local Chinese population or indeed any other group unless they have recently visited parts of the world where the virus is.”
The hotline number to report incidents is 020-8359 6003.


Claire the Librarian