Ex-UK consulate employee’s legal rights protected in custody: Chinese FM

By Zhang Hui and Cao Siqi Source: Published: 2019/11/20 16:07:14 Last Updated: 2019/11/20 22:00:16



Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday stressed that the Chinese public security department guaranteed former British Consulate General employee Simon Cheng Man-kit's legal rights during his administrative detention in August and he has confessed his guilt, after media reports alleged Cheng was tortured by police. 

Geng Shuang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson made the remarks at Wednesday's routine press conference. 

Cheng, 28, a former employee of the British Consulate General in Hong Kong, was given 15 days' administrative detention by Shenzhen police for violating China's regulations on public security management. Police in Luohu district said Cheng was detained for 15 days for soliciting prostitutes.

However, in a statement on Wednesday on his Facebook account Cheng denied the accusations, saying that they were obtained through an illegal process, including using torture, threats and coercion. 

Western media outlets including the BBC, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal carried lengthy stories on this, reporting that British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has summoned the Chinese ambassador to UK to express "outrage." The British Foreign Secretary called "the brutal and disgraceful treatment of Simon in violation of China's international obligations."

Geng said that China urges the UK not to interfere in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, as this would only undermine the interests of the UK. 

Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the UK, said on Wednesday that he met with Dominic Raab on Tuesday and in response to the case of Simon Cheng brought up by Dominic Raab, Liu said Cheng had been placed under a 15-day administrative detention by police in Shenzhen in August for violating China's Public Security Administration Punishments Law. Cheng confessed all his offences and all his lawful rights and interests were guaranteed in accordance with law. 

Back in August, Western media extensively reported on the case in which Cheng "went missing" during his trip to Shenzhen and linked the incident to the situation in Hong Kong in an attempt to politicize the case. 

Liu on Wednesday also expressed grave concern and strong opposition to British Government's recent repeated wrong remarks regarding Hong Kong. 

Liu urged the UK side to have a clear understanding of the current situation in Hong Kong, immediately stop condoning extreme, violent offences, and immediately stop any form of interference in Hong Kong affairs, which are China's internal affairs.



Posted in: HK/MACAO/TAIWAN

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