New laws to toughen up on migrant workers will leave Barnet's Chinese restaurants with a lack of chefs, according to a restaurateur.

A points system introduced by the Government in February requires would-be workers from countries outside the EU to fulfil certain criteria, including vocational qualifications and English language skills.

But Yip Fai Liu, who owns two restaurants in Colindale's Oriental City, fears the system will jeopardise his community's catering industry, which relies on migrants with cooking skills who might not pass the test.

Mr Liu, who is president of the Chinese Immig-ration Concern Committee, said the system leaves restaurants with a shortfall of skilled workers, and could be so damaging to the industry that he "might as well pack up and get another job".

He said: "The catering industry is the backbone of the Chinese community.

"Now you need NVQ level three and to speak English. But that would be an NVQ in English catering, not Chinese.

"I know it's important to know English, but these people speak the language of food. They speak sauces and marination - English doesn't come into that."

Mr Liu was one of thousands of members of the Chinese, Turkish and Bangladeshi communities who descended on Trafalgar Square at the weekend to protest against the new system.

Nicholas Russell, Liberal Democrat candidate for the Barnet and Camden GLA seat, said the law is a further blow to the Chinese community following the decision to close Oriental City this summer to make way for new homes.

"The local Chinese community has already suffered substantially," he said. "Restaurants like these have no intention of recruiting illegal immigrants, so how are they to continue if the Labour Government will not let any new skilled Chinese chefs enter Britain despite the growth in demand?"

A Home Office spokesman tried to allay the fears of the Chinese community.

He said: "We know many people will be anxious about the rules because they are becoming tougher. We've asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to listen to people's concerns and advise ministers on the best way forward.

"In fact, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne has specifically asked the chairman of the MAC to speak to employers in the industry to ensure their concerns are taken into account."

Mr Liu accused the Government of failing to understand his community, adding: "The MAC doesn't have any Chinese members so how do they know what a skilled worker is? Gordon Brown should come into my kitchen if he wants to learn about skilled workers."