0:07

Milan is the high altar of the fashion world. The manufacture of top quality clothes has made it the richest city in Italy.

Thanks to the flair and business acumen of the textile industry, the economy of this city has thrived since the mid-twentieth century. Its success has touched places as remote as the Far East.

00:25

Today Milan has its very own “Chinatown”, a Chinese quarter right in the middle of the city. And it continues to expand.

The Chinese in this area operate around five hundred shops. They import cheap goods from their homeland and sell them on to other dealers.

Life around Via Sarpi has been radically changed. The narrow street is not really suitable for the intense activity that is now going on. Locals in the neighbourhood are outraged.

00:49

Pier Franco Lionetto

President of the citizens’ grassroot movement “Sarpi Alive”

“The Chinese have established themselves in an area that is not suitable for wholesale commerce. The place is much too small for that. Initially it was only a few individual businesses. Within three years the numbers rose to 250, and now we already have 500 shops, in this narrowest of spaces. It is certainly the responsibility of the municipal authorities to see to this.”

01:08

Pier Franco Lionetto has appointed himself spokesperson for the discontented locals and has set up a citizens’ pressure group to deal with this matter. The long-time residents of the area who look back nostalgically on an idyllic past are giving him their support. They feel edged out by the Chinese.

01:25

(elderly lady)

“The small stores where I used to do my shopping have sold up. Even the butcher has gone. There is no one left in our quarter now.”

01:39

Woman 2

“The Chinese keep themselves to themselves, they exclude others from their circle.  They are completely self-contained. They have their own walk in clinics – be they legal or illegal – even their own banks!”

01:52

Via Sarpi is divided. Shops at ground level are under Chinese ownership. But then, there still are Italians living in the flats above. The pressure group has made its feelings known through publicity posters and banners. At the beginning of the year the conservative City Council of Milan decided to take action.

02:07

Riccardo De Corato

Deputy Mayor, National Alliance

“We have found ourselves faced with a situation that does not conform to municipal law. And, what is more, the state of affairs has been escalating.

2:16

Local inhabitants have demanded that the police exercise stricter controls on the retail practices of the Chinese-run businesses.  So we instructed the police to ensure that the Chinese keep to the town rules and regulations.”

02:37

“Milan must not become a second Shanghai” says the Deputy Mayor. Since the beginning of the year, controls have been tightened and penalties imposed. Loading and unloading times had to be strictly adhered to. The use of handcarts was not permitted any longer. The Chinese felt that they were being harassed.

02:55

Rosalba Zheng

Student

“Over the last few months, they have tried – dare I say it? – to drive us out….

……but they cannot do that. When we bought the shops we did everything perfectly legally and it was all above board. You would hardly credit it.”

03:18

(elderly Chinese lady)

“I am 60 years old. So, am I to lug around this huge package on my shoulders? How do you expect me to work without a handcart? We pay taxes. We are all law-abiding.”

03:28

(Young Chinese)

“Italians think that they are the only ones entitled to eat, that the Chinese should go hungry!…if we work they tell us, no! that is not right! You should sit quietly and do nothing at all. That’s how it is!!!”

03:50

The Chinese complain that no one has explained the new regulations to them so that they no longer know what is allowed and what isn’t.

03:58

Suping Huang

“If the Chinese cannot legally use handcarts any more, then they’ll have to carry their wares on their shoulders. But that is subject to a fine. We are not allowed to use the cart on the road. So, we think, we’ll push it along the pavement. That too is not permissible. Many resort to using a bicycle. But even that is forbidden!”

04:19

Riccardo De Corato

“We do have to see to it that Italians do not just respect the letter of the law but also the human angle. However, it is also important that guests arriving in our country, looking forward to friendship and hospitality, take it upon themselves to observe our laws and regulations.”

04:33

Zhang Liming

Chinese Consul General – Milan

“It’s not on, that loading is prohibited at all times of the day. That makes it impossible for Chinese traders to do their work. They see their livelihood threatened!

…I have sought to explain this situation to the municipal authorities but our high level talks did not have any positive results. So the tension has increased.”

05:00

This powder keg exploded one day in April. It was sparked off when a Chinese woman received a parking ticket. Quite who initiated the fighting is not yet clear. In time, that should become evident. But the pent-up anger and resentment could no longer be restrained. In Europe, this was the first ever riot involving Chinese immigrants.

OPEN (a few seconds)

5:21

13 Police Officers and 7 Chinese ended up being treated in hospital.

Even the Chinese authorities were taken aback. The Consul General warned Italy, on behalf of Peking, of the consequences that could follow the dispute. Italians felt provoked.

05:40

Chinese Consul General

“It was not a threat. The Peking government merely said it would not be desirable to allow this incident to have a negative effect on good bilateral relations between the two countries ….. in my opinion, it was a plain statement”

06:03

But when national feelings are aroused and flags flown, emotions run high. Chinese banners were succeeded by those of the right wing populist party, the Northern League, which stands for hard line opposition to immigration.

Mario Borghazio

Member of the European Parliament (Northern League)

“We should not tolerate these disturbances against the police. After all, these people must not forget that they are here in our country as guests – as guests….and eventually guests do have to pack their bags”

06:46

But the Chinese want to stay on here. Normal daily life has returned to Via Sarpi. Chinese trade dealers will get together with officials in the city hall to look for a solution to the infrastructure problem. Now, new voices, supporting peaceful integration, are increasingly making themselves heard.

6:59

(Woman)

“The riots occurred in extraordinary circumstances. I often go shopping in the Chinese quarter and have not had any problems”.

07:11

The younger generation in Milan instinctively supports anti racism. Their motto is: we must learn to know each other better.

7:23

Ulia Conti

“Some parties want to win electorate votes by attacking the rights of ethnic minorities such as the Chinese. Milan has a right wing town council with intense fears and prejudices. What we really need is not prejudices, but policies that work towards multicultural diversity.

07:44

The uprising in Milan’s Chinatown has demolished a barrier between the Italians and the self-contained Chinese minority. Eventually, young people from both sides came together in a demonstration in support of peaceful cohabitation in a multicultural community.