LONDON — China’s International Ministry mentioned Tuesday its diplomatic missions overseas have the fitting to “take obligatory measures” to keep up safety after British police opened an investigation into the assault of a Hong Kong protester who alleged he was dragged into the Chinese language Consulate in Manchester and crushed up throughout an illustration.
Britain’s international secretary summoned China’s second-most senior diplomat within the U.Okay. on Tuesday to specific the U.Okay.’s “deep concern” concerning the assault allegations and to demand a proof for the actions of the Chinese language consulate workers.
Police within the English metropolis of Manchester mentioned a peaceable protest exterior the Chinese language Consulate on Sunday became a “hostile” scenario when unidentified males got here out of the constructing, dragged one protester into the consulate grounds and assaulted him. Police mentioned officers needed to intervene and take away the person.
The person, who’s in his 30s, informed reporters that he was crushed up when protesters tried to cease the masked males from tearing down their anti-government placards exterior the gates of the consulate. The protesters had gathered on the consulate because the Chinese language Communist Occasion opened its weeklong congress in Beijing on Sunday.
Chinese language International Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin rejected the accounts of the protester and Manchester police. He informed reporters Tuesday that the protester had “illegally entered” the consulate and “jeopardized the safety of the Chinese language diplomatic premises.”
“The diplomatic missions of all nations have the fitting to take obligatory measures to keep up the peace and dignity of the premises,” Wang mentioned in Beijing. “What I need to stress is that the peace and dignity of Chinese language embassies and consulates overseas should not be violated.”
He added that the British authorities ought to step up safety for Chinese language diplomatic posts and personnel within the U.Okay.
Downing Avenue mentioned the incident was “deeply regarding,” and a International Workplace official summoned Chinese language cost d’affaires Yang Xiaoguang on Tuesday.
“At the moment now we have made our view clear to the Chinese language authorities: The proper to peaceable protest within the U.Okay. have to be revered,” mentioned International Workplace minister Zac Goldsmith.
A number of U.Okay. lawmakers pressed the British authorities to take more durable motion.
“We can not enable the Chinese language Communist Occasion to import their beating of protesters and their silencing of free speech … to British soil,” mentioned Alicia Kearns, chair of Parliament’s international affairs committee.
The Chinese language consul common was among the many males who ripped down the protesters’ posters, Kearns added.
Video on the BBC web site confirmed a scuffle breaking out in entrance of the consulate after masked males tore down the protesters’ placards. The video appeared to indicate a number of males sporting face masks beating up somebody who had been pushed to the bottom.
Police mentioned the protester was taken to a hospital to deal with his accidents. No arrests have been made.
The Chinese language Consulate in Manchester didn’t reply to a request for remark.
At a media briefing Tuesday, Hong Kong chief John Lee mentioned he didn’t have full particulars concerning the case however trusted that the U.Okay. authorities would deal with the incident in accordance with the Vienna Conference on Consular Relations and British legislation.
