Racist leaflets condemned

Several Chinese families' homes have been targeted in the past

A racist leaflet urging people to expel members of the Chinese community from an area of south Belfast has been condemned.

The document has been circulated in the Donegall Pass area of Belfast, where several Chinese businesses are based.

The leaflet claims that the number of Chinese people living and working in the area "undermines the community's Britishness".

Police investigating the leaflets seized a computer and other items during searches in the area on Wednesday.

Padraigeen Drinan, a solicitor for the Chinese Welfare Association, said many of her clients are business owners who have improved the economy of the area.

She said the leaflets were unacceptable.

"The sentiments are full of hate for a section of our population, many of whom have lived here for many years who are hard working people in the community," she said.

My understanding is that the leaflet was handed out at a public meeting David Ervine PUP

DUP leader Ian Paisley said the threat was "vicious and diabolical".

He said it was a campaign of "ethinic cleansing" and must be opposed by all law-abiding people.

South Belfast assembly member Alasdair McDonnell condemned what he called "this latest outrage".

"The Chinese people who reside and work in Donegall Pass are extremely decent people who make a valuable contribution to the ecomony here," said the SDLP member.

Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine said he felt "angry beyond belief".

"My understanding is that the leaflet was handed out at a public meeting," he said.

"Does that mean that the person who handed out the leaflet felt they had kindred spirits? Was that person then tapping the mood of that community? It worries me deeply, that is the most overriding sense of loss - where a community allows this to happen to itself."

SDLP deputy leader Alastair McDonnell called the leaflet "an outrage"

Rev Ian Hart, a Presbyterian minister in the Donegall Pass area, condemned the leaflet but called for a level of understanding for residents.

"It is naturally perplexing to us because we are social, gregarious creatures who like to be among our own kind," he said.

"It is perplexing if you begin to feel that perhaps you are going to be a minority in your own street.

"We should understand and have a certain amount of compassion for ordinary, decent people without a sectarian, racist bone in their bodies."

Former Culture Minister Michael McGimpsey said the people who distributed the leaflets were intolerant.

"Those distributing this type of material are evil and totally intolerant and the overwhelming majority of decent people in south Belfast are appalled by it," he said.

The Alliance Party's south Belfast representative, Geraldine Rice, also condemned it.

"The community must make it clear that this type of intimidation is unacceptable.

"It is tarnishing our reputation as a welcoming city and I would call on those behind it to stop now," she said.

On Monday, the Policing Board told the chief constable Hugh Orde that rising levels of racial and homophobic attacks in the province must be closely monitored.

Attacks on Asians and Africans in parts of Belfast rose by 30% in the past year, resulting in many families fleeing their homes.

Such incidents are to be tackled as part of a £774m strategy for running the Police Service of Northern Ireland over the next 12 months.