China frees Hong Kong British consulate trade officer
A BRITISH consulate employee in Hong Kong has been freed by China after being detained on the mainland for 15 days amid rising tensions between the former British colony and Beijing.
Simon Cheng, 28, a trade and investment officer at the Hong Kong consulate’s Scottish Development International section, went missing on Aug 8 on his way back from a work trip in Shenzhen, a nearby Chinese city.
It wasn’t until after the UK expressed “extreme concern” that China’s foreign ministry broke its silence, confirming Mr Cheng had been detained without releasing further details.
Yesterday, his family announced he had come back. “Simon has returned to Hong Kong; thank you everyone for your support! Simon and his family wish to have some time to rest and recover, and will not take any interview,” they said in a statement.
Police in Shenzhen confirmed that Mr Cheng had been detained for violating public security management regulations, and was released yesterday.
Police also said he had “confessed to the facts of his illegal activity,” without saying what those activities were. Mr Cheng was not formally charged or tried in court, and his family rejected allegations in Chinese state media that he was detained for visiting prostitutes.
On Friday the UK issued a warning to all travellers to Hong Kong about increased scrutiny from mainland authorities at border crossings. It said mobile phones and electronic devices were being checked by border patrol.
Mr Cheng’s disappearance highlights China’s murky legal and judicial system – something that helped start protests in early June in Hong Kong.
Many fear freedoms enjoyed in Hong Kong, guaranteed for at least 50 years under an agreement that became effective when the former colony was returned to Beijing, are disappearing under China’s ruling Communist Party.
Millions took to the streets against a now-suspended extradition proposal that would have sent people to face trial in mainland China, where Communist Party control of the courts contributes to a 99.9 per cent conviction rate.
“What happened to Simon Cheng – this is a common tactic used by the central government to put pressure on people,” said Kammy Yang, 50, an office clerk at a protest yesterday. “Many Chinese activists were accused of prostitution or tax scams; this is their strategy in China, trying to suppress freedom.”
Thousands of protesters yesterday threw bricks and petrol bombs at police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.