https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news...london-areas-indians-pakistanis-black-people/
Two MPs from areas with large Asian communities have asked the Chinese ambassador to the UK for an apology after an airline magazine warned Chinese tourists to take precautions in areas with “Indians, Pakistanis and black people”.
The warning appeared in Air China’s in-flight magazine as part of a feature on visiting London.
Virenda Sharma, the Labour MP for Ealing Southall, said she was “shocked and appalled” to read “such blatantly untrue and racist statements”.
The feature, in Wings Of China magazine, said:
“London is generally a safe place to travel, however precautions are needed when entering areas mainly populated by Indians, Pakistanis and black people.
“We advise tourists not to go out alone at night, and females always to be accompanied by another person when travelling.”
The words appeared in both English and Chinese in a section marked “Tips”.
‘Offensive’
Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan said: “I think it is offensive to all Londoners, not just the ethnic minorities mentioned.”
She told the Evening Standard:
“I am going to be writing to the Chinese ambassador to invite him to visit Tooting in London, where all races live side by side. Then they can see how we live and our wonderfully diverse community.”
BME communities make up around two-fifths of London’s population, with the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, the child of Pakistani immigrants to Tooting.
Multicultural area
Ms Sharma has asked for the magazine to be removed from circulation. The MP, whose constituency is 39 per cent Asian, said:
“I have invited representatives of Air China to visit my constituency of Ealing Southall to see that a very multi-cultural area is safe, and would be of great value for those visiting London to see. “I will await their response, and if an appropriate one is not forthcoming I shall feel forced to question whether Air China is a fit company to operate in the UK.”
Air China has not commented on the article.
Two MPs from areas with large Asian communities have asked the Chinese ambassador to the UK for an apology after an airline magazine warned Chinese tourists to take precautions in areas with “Indians, Pakistanis and black people”.
The warning appeared in Air China’s in-flight magazine as part of a feature on visiting London.
Virenda Sharma, the Labour MP for Ealing Southall, said she was “shocked and appalled” to read “such blatantly untrue and racist statements”.
The feature, in Wings Of China magazine, said:
“London is generally a safe place to travel, however precautions are needed when entering areas mainly populated by Indians, Pakistanis and black people.
“We advise tourists not to go out alone at night, and females always to be accompanied by another person when travelling.”
The words appeared in both English and Chinese in a section marked “Tips”.
‘Offensive’
Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan said: “I think it is offensive to all Londoners, not just the ethnic minorities mentioned.”
She told the Evening Standard:
“I am going to be writing to the Chinese ambassador to invite him to visit Tooting in London, where all races live side by side. Then they can see how we live and our wonderfully diverse community.”
BME communities make up around two-fifths of London’s population, with the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, the child of Pakistani immigrants to Tooting.
Multicultural area
Ms Sharma has asked for the magazine to be removed from circulation. The MP, whose constituency is 39 per cent Asian, said:
“I have invited representatives of Air China to visit my constituency of Ealing Southall to see that a very multi-cultural area is safe, and would be of great value for those visiting London to see. “I will await their response, and if an appropriate one is not forthcoming I shall feel forced to question whether Air China is a fit company to operate in the UK.”
Air China has not commented on the article.
