Manchester: Pro HK democracy protestor dragged into Chinese consulate and beaten up
Video:
Tory MPs call for a ‘full apology’ from China’s UK ambassador in wake of Sunday incident.
British MPs are demanding an investigation after a Hong Kong pro-democracy protestor was filmed being dragged into the Chinese Consulate grounds in Manchester and beaten up.
The incident, which happened Sunday and was captured on video, has sparked calls for Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to summon the Chinese ambassador, as well as demands for an apology.
The footage shows unidentified men emerging from the consulate compound, taking down a satirical portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and then dragging inside the man — who later identified himself to the BBC as “Bob.”
As a scuffle ensues at the gates of the consulate, the men land a series of blows on the protestor inside.
“Several mainlanders came out and destroyed our props,” Bob told the BBC, using a term to refer to people from mainland China. “When we tried to stop them I was dragged inside and attacked. Some police officers dragged me out.”
The altercation has enraged Conservative MPs, many of whom are increasingly hawkish on China.
“This is deeply worrying,” former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith wrote on Twitter. He called on No. 10 Downing Street to “demand a full apology” from China’s ambassador to the U.K. and “demand those responsible are sent home to China.”
That was echoed by Alicia Kearns, a fellow Conservative MP who chairs the House of Commons foreign affairs committee. She said the Chinese Communist Party “will not import their beating of protestors and denial of free speech to British streets.”
Kearns warned that “if any official has beaten protesters, they must be expelled or prosecuted,” and shared a photograph of the incident on social media which she said “suggests that protestors were assaulted, and that the Consul General had full sight, and quite possibly was involved, in the assaults.”
Calls for a response also came from the opposition Labour Party.
Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “Reports that a pro-democracy protestor was allegedly assaulted in the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester are deeply concerning and, if accurate, totally unacceptable.”
He added: “The foreign secretary should urgently summon the Chinese ambassador to demand an explanation for the incident. The U.K. stands for freedom, the rule of law and democracy. The quashing of peaceful protest will never be tolerated on our streets.”
Responding to the footage, U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss’ official spokesperson said: “These reports are obviously deeply concerning. I understand Greater Manchester Police responded immediately to the incident so it would be inappropriate for me to comment beyond that. They have stepped up patrols in the area.” #bobchan
Tiong beat Tiong, nothing wrong.