There's a magic trick happening across the UK, from Carmarthen to Queensway. One minute there's a friendly, popular, eclectic, public space, and the next there's a shiny corporate edifice, complete with bans on political activities, soaring rents, out-of-town operators and the major retailers' shop-fronts. Camden market was to be next in line for the treatment, but currently heading up the bill is London's much-loved Chinatown.

In May 2003, the property developers Rosewheel Ltd bought the 200 year lease of Chinatown's Sandringham Building and its surrounding area. One of the busiest and most vibrant parts of Chinatown, the area's home to local shops (including a Chinese newsagent and a fishmonger) and is the site of the famous Pagoda monument, which was funded by Chinese community businesses to protect the Feng Shui of the community. Rosewheel's development plans include moving it.

Although Rosewheel claim to have 'consulted widely' with the community, community representatives say that the first residents knew of the 'redevelopment' was when they were served with a notice to quit. Rents are set to increase by as much as 500%. Tenants who, despite this, have requested the right to return after the development have been told that they are hardly in a position to compete with shops like Tesco, Next and William Hill - the target retailers the developers aim to attract.

Perhaps it is not surprising that Rosewheel Ltd feel able to act in this way. Their owner is millionaire Robert Bourne, referred to by the Guardian as a 'property magnate'. In fact, Mr Bourne is much more than a mere magnate. A former supporter of the Conservatives, to the tune of more than £40,000, he switched his allegiance to New Labour in 1998. Red Star Research (www.red-star-research.org.uk) reports that in one year alone he donated £100,000 to New Labour, and cites the party that he and his wife gave for Peter Mandelson as 'one of the most lavish occasions anyone can remember' . He is still, however, a good friend of Margaret Thatcher's PR man, Tim Bell, and her advertiser, Charles Saatchi.

'We are in fighting mood' says Chinese civil rights campaigner Jabez Lam, undaunted by the spectacle of the rich and powerful preparing to carve up yet another slice of life. 'We are being financially blackmailed, Westminster Council are washing their hands, and the politically wealthy are trying to take over, but the Chinese people have been living and working here for decades. We made this place prosperous. We live here. We are in fighting mood'.

CONTACT: www.minquan.org.uk