UK may not ease Chinese tourist visa restrictions on organized crime fears
Skift Take
While the rest of the world, including U.S. is rolling out the red carpet to attract wealthy Chinese tourists, UK wants to go the other way on some rather sketchy claims.
The UK Home Secretary is blocking plans by her cabinet colleagues to make it easier for Chinese tourists to get visas amid fears it will lead to a rise in organised crime, according to a leaked letter.
Theresa May has warned Downing Street that relaxing checks on Chinese visitors would pose a threat to national security and bring Chinese criminals and asylum seekers to Britain.
Her intervention comes after senior cabinet ministers, led by Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, raised concerns that tourists are being put off coming to Britain by a difficult and expensive visa system.
Mr Hunt's call to simplify the regime is understood to have been supported by George Osborne, the Chancellor, and Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, amid complaints from Chinese businesses.
A leaked letter from Mrs May's private secretary shows the issue has escalated to the highest level of Government with the Home Secretary forced to answer questions from the Prime Minister about how to increase Chinese visits.
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