HK: China in diplomatic rows with US, UK
HONG KONG : Some anti-government protesters trapped inside a Hong Kong uni ve r s i t y o n Wednesday tried to flee through the sewers, where one student said she saw snakes, but fireman prevented further escape bids by blocking a metal manhole into the system.
Fewer than 100 protesters remained inside the Polytechnic University, ring-fenced 24 hours a day by riot police.
Chinese leaders say they are committed to Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” formula for autonomy and have accused foreign countries, including Britain and the United States, of stirring up trouble.
Ties between China and those two countries came under strain over Hong Kong on Wednesday.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemned China’s treatment of Simon Cheng, a former employee of Britain’s Hong Kong consulate, who said secret police beat him seeking information about the protest movement.
“We we r e s h o c k e d a n d appalled by the mistreatment he suffered while in Chinese detention, which amounts to torture,” Raab said, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Cheng had been detained for 15 days and had admitted fully to his offences. All of his legal rights were safeguarded, the spokesman said.
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the “Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act”, which would require the secretary of state to certify at least once a year that Hong Kong retains enough autonomy to qualify for special US trading consideration and would impose sanctions against offi cials responsible for rights violations.
The bill must be reconciled wi t h s i mi l a r legislation approved by the House of Representatives. China summoned a representative of t he U. S. embassy in Beijing over the legislation and demanded that the United States stop meddling, the foreign ministry said. The Hong Kong government expressed “deep regret” over the bill.