MARCHERS, POLICE BLOCK STREET; WHITE WOMAN BURNS PASSPORT; GIRL TAKEN AWAY BY POLICE; DOWNING STREET; DELEGATION PRESENTS PROTEST AT NUMBER 10. (NATURAL SOUND THROUGHOUT)




Initials TS/V/AS/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ABOUT 3,500 DEMONSTRATORS -- INDIANS, PAKISTANIS, AFRICANS WEST INDIANS AND WHITES -- TODAY (SUNDAY) STAGED A MASSIVE DEMONSTRATION IN LONDON IN PROTEST AGAINST THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO CLAMP DOWN ON KENYAN ASIAN IMMIGRANTS. THE MARCH TODAY WAS THE BEGINNING OF A FIERCE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE BILL BY IMMIGRANT ORGANISATIONS, CIVIL RIGHTS AND POLITICAL GROUPS.

THE DEMONSTRATORS SET OFF FROM TWO POINTS IN THE CITY TO MARCH TO NUMBER 10 DOWNING STREET, THE HOME OF BRITISH PRIME MINISTER HAROLD WILSON. POLICE STRUGGLED TO UNSNARL TRAFFIC JAMS AS THE MARCHERS MOVED IN AN ORDERLY LINE DOWN FASHIONABLE PARK LANE.

THEY CHANTED SLOGANS AND CARRIED BANNERS CONDEMNING THE GOVERNMENT'S BILL, EXPECTED TO BECOME LAW ON THURSDAY, CUTTING THE INFLUX OF ASIAN BRITISH PASSPORT HOLDERS FROM AN ESTIMATED 2,000 A WEEK TO ONLY 1,500 A YEAR.

AS THE DEMONSTRATORS THRONGED AROUND THE ENTRANCE TO DOWNING STREET, AN ELDERLY WHITE WOMAN IN A FUR TORE UP HER BRITISH PASSPORT.

LEADERS OF THE PROCESSION WERE ALLOWED THROUGH A POLICE CORDON TO PRESENT A LETTER OF PROTEST TO AN OFFICIAL AT NUMBER 10. THE PRIME MINISTER WAS NOT THERE AT THE TIME, AS USUAL HE WAS SPENDING THE WEEK-END AT HIS OFFICIAL COUNTRY RESIDENCE.

SEVERAL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT HAVE DECLARED THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE LEGISLATION -- INCLUDING A NUMBER OF LABOUR MEMBERS.