China confirms consulate staffer in custody, warns UK against ‘fanning flames’

Clockwise from left: The UK consulate in Hong Kong; consulate staffer Simon Cheng, who is being detained in China; and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, who confirmed Cheng’s detention. Photos via Google Maps/Facebook/VoA.
Clockwise from left: The UK consulate in Hong Kong; consulate staffer Simon Cheng, who is being detained in China; and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, who confirmed Cheng’s detention. Photos via Google Maps/Facebook/VoA.

Beijing confirmed today that they are detaining an employee of Britain’s consulate in Hong Kong who went missing earlier this month after a meeting on the mainland, claiming he violated the law while also warning the UK to stop “fanning flames on the Hong Kong issue.”

The incident comes as relations between Britain and China have become strained over what Beijing calls London’s “interference” in the pro-democracy protests that have wracked Hong Kong for three months.

“The person you mentioned has been placed in administrative detention for 15 days as punishment” by Shenzhen police for breaking a public security law, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.

Geng said the employee was from Hong Kong and therefore the issue was an internal matter.

“Let me clarify, this employee is a Hong Kong citizen, he’s not a UK citizen, which is also saying he’s a Chinese person,” Geng said.

The man, named by his family as Simon Cheng, traveled to Shenzhen, just over the border, for a one-day business meeting on Aug. 8.

That night, Cheng returned via high-speed train and sent messages to his girlfriend as he was about to go through customs.

“We lost contact with him since then,” the family said in a Facebook post.

Beijing has repeatedly warned Britain — the former colonial ruler of Hong Kong — against any “interference” in the protests, which erupted 11 weeks ago and have seen millions of people hit the streets calling for democratic reforms.

“Recently the UK has made many erroneous remarks about Hong Kong,” Geng said at today’s briefing.

“We once again urge the British side to stop gesticulating and fanning flames on the Hong Kong issue.”



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