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| Chinese diplomat involved in protester attack, says UK MP | Chinese diplomat involved in protester attack, says UK MP |
| (4 months later) | |
| Watch: British MP Alicia Kearns accuses Chinese officials of beating protesters in Manchester | Watch: British MP Alicia Kearns accuses Chinese officials of beating protesters in Manchester |
| Watch: British MP Alicia Kearns accuses Chinese officials of beating protesters in Manchester | Watch: British MP Alicia Kearns accuses Chinese officials of beating protesters in Manchester |
| One of China's most senior UK diplomats was involved in violence against protesters at the Manchester consulate on Sunday, a British MP says. | One of China's most senior UK diplomats was involved in violence against protesters at the Manchester consulate on Sunday, a British MP says. |
| "What we saw was the Chinese consul-general then ripping down posters and peaceful protest," Alicia Kearns told MPs in the House of Commons. | "What we saw was the Chinese consul-general then ripping down posters and peaceful protest," Alicia Kearns told MPs in the House of Commons. |
| MPs in Parliament have privilege, allowing them to speak freely without fear of legal action. | MPs in Parliament have privilege, allowing them to speak freely without fear of legal action. |
| China has not commented on Zheng Xiyuan's alleged involvement. | China has not commented on Zheng Xiyuan's alleged involvement. |
| But the foreign ministry in Beijing defended the actions of consulate staff. | But the foreign ministry in Beijing defended the actions of consulate staff. |
| Spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday that people had "illegally entered" the grounds and any country's diplomats would have taken "necessary measures" to protect their premises. | Spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday that people had "illegally entered" the grounds and any country's diplomats would have taken "necessary measures" to protect their premises. |
| A protester is pulled at the gate of the consulate on Sunday - the consul-general is alleged to be in a mask and hat (far left) | A protester is pulled at the gate of the consulate on Sunday - the consul-general is alleged to be in a mask and hat (far left) |
| The UK's foreign office summoned Chinese chargé d'affaires Yang Xiaoguang - the deputy to the ambassador who is currently not in the UK - to demand an explanation for what happened at the consulate. However, an official was sent in the deputy's place. | The UK's foreign office summoned Chinese chargé d'affaires Yang Xiaoguang - the deputy to the ambassador who is currently not in the UK - to demand an explanation for what happened at the consulate. However, an official was sent in the deputy's place. |
| A foreign office statement said it was reiterated at Tuesday's meeting that all diplomats and consular staff based in the UK must respect the UK's laws and regulations. | A foreign office statement said it was reiterated at Tuesday's meeting that all diplomats and consular staff based in the UK must respect the UK's laws and regulations. |
| The official Chinese version of what happened is at odds with video footage and statements from police. Officers had to pull back a protester as he was being attacked after he had been dragged inside the consulate gate. | The official Chinese version of what happened is at odds with video footage and statements from police. Officers had to pull back a protester as he was being attacked after he had been dragged inside the consulate gate. |
| But on Wednesday China's foreign ministry said it had complained to Britain, alleging that some of its staff had been injured during the "illegal entry to the Chinese consulate-general in Manchester". It urged Britain to do more to protect Chinese diplomats on UK soil. | But on Wednesday China's foreign ministry said it had complained to Britain, alleging that some of its staff had been injured during the "illegal entry to the Chinese consulate-general in Manchester". It urged Britain to do more to protect Chinese diplomats on UK soil. |
| Ms Kearns told MPs on Tuesday that after Consul-General Zheng Xiyuan ripped down the placards, there was "grievous bodily harm against a Hongkonger, one of whom was hospitalised for taking part in a peaceful protest. | Ms Kearns told MPs on Tuesday that after Consul-General Zheng Xiyuan ripped down the placards, there was "grievous bodily harm against a Hongkonger, one of whom was hospitalised for taking part in a peaceful protest. |
| "Some were then dragged onto consulate territory for a further beating by officials who have been recognised to be members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). | "Some were then dragged onto consulate territory for a further beating by officials who have been recognised to be members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). |
| "We cannot allow the CCP to import their beating of protesters, their silencing of free speech and their failure to allow time and time again protests on British soil. This is a chilling escalation." | "We cannot allow the CCP to import their beating of protesters, their silencing of free speech and their failure to allow time and time again protests on British soil. This is a chilling escalation." |
| Watch: Hong Kong protester attacked in China consulate grounds | Watch: Hong Kong protester attacked in China consulate grounds |
| Watch: Hong Kong protester attacked in China consulate grounds | Watch: Hong Kong protester attacked in China consulate grounds |
| According to a statement by the Greater Manchester Police, around 30 to 40 people had gathered outside the consulate to protest. | According to a statement by the Greater Manchester Police, around 30 to 40 people had gathered outside the consulate to protest. |
| "Shortly before 4pm a small group of men came out of the building and a man was dragged into the consulate grounds and assaulted," the statement said. | "Shortly before 4pm a small group of men came out of the building and a man was dragged into the consulate grounds and assaulted," the statement said. |
| "Due to our fears for the safety of the man, officers intervened and removed the victim from the consulate grounds." | "Due to our fears for the safety of the man, officers intervened and removed the victim from the consulate grounds." |
| The consulate is UK territory, but cannot be entered without consent. | The consulate is UK territory, but cannot be entered without consent. |
| Another MP, Labour's Afzal Khan - who represents the constituency where the consulate is, Manchester Gorton - told the House of Commons he was "sickened" by the scenes. | Another MP, Labour's Afzal Khan - who represents the constituency where the consulate is, Manchester Gorton - told the House of Commons he was "sickened" by the scenes. |
| "The UK stands for freedom, the rule of law, and democracy," said the Labour MP. "The quashing of peaceful protests will never be tolerated on British soil." | "The UK stands for freedom, the rule of law, and democracy," said the Labour MP. "The quashing of peaceful protests will never be tolerated on British soil." |
| Mr Khan and other MPs called for the consul-general to be declared a "persona non grata" - meaning a person who is unwelcome in the country. | Mr Khan and other MPs called for the consul-general to be declared a "persona non grata" - meaning a person who is unwelcome in the country. |
| Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith asked if the government would "be prepared to expel the consul-general and any of those that are found to have been part of that punishment beating and the vandalism?" | Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith asked if the government would "be prepared to expel the consul-general and any of those that are found to have been part of that punishment beating and the vandalism?" |
| Some MPs called for the Foreign Office to go further, including Labour's Andrew Gwynne who said: "Had these incidents happened on the streets of Hong Kong, there would have been outrage from the British government, rightly so. | Some MPs called for the Foreign Office to go further, including Labour's Andrew Gwynne who said: "Had these incidents happened on the streets of Hong Kong, there would have been outrage from the British government, rightly so. |
| "They happened on the streets of Manchester and yet we have this situation where the minister is basically sending a memo to the Chinese embassy, an offer of a cup of tea and a chat with the ambassador." | "They happened on the streets of Manchester and yet we have this situation where the minister is basically sending a memo to the Chinese embassy, an offer of a cup of tea and a chat with the ambassador." |
| Zheng Xiyuan on the right, and the man accused of being involved in the violence on the left | Zheng Xiyuan on the right, and the man accused of being involved in the violence on the left |
| Related Topics | |
| Hong Kong anti-government protests | |
| China | |
| Manchester | |
| Hong Kong |