China removes six diplomats from UK after protester assaulted

Chinese President Xi Jinping. China has recalled six officials wanted for questioning in the UK after an assault on a pro-democracy protester in Manchester. Photo / AP

China’s government has removed a Chinese consul general and five of his staff after an assault on a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester at the Chinese consulate in Manchester, Britain’s foreign secretary said today.

James Cleverly said British police wanted to question the six officials over the assault on protester Bob Chen, who said masked men came out from the consulate building during a peaceful protest in October, dragged him into the consulate grounds and beat him up.

Police said officers at the scene had to intervene and remove Chen, who suffered injuries to his face and back.

Cleverly said Britain’s Foreign Office requested Beijing waive the diplomatic immunity of the six officials to allow police investigating the matter to question them.

“In response, the Chinese Embassy, acting on instructions from Beijing, notified His Majesty’s Government that the functions of the Consul General in Manchester have come to an end and he has returned to China,” Cleverly said.

He added that the other staff have “either left the United Kingdom or will shortly do so.”

Chen welcomed Thursday’s development in a statement.

“It has been two months since I was attacked in Manchester by staff members of the Chinese Consulate,” he said.

“What happened on 16 October 2022 was unacceptable and illegal, and the withdrawal of these Chinese diplomats gives me a sense of closure.”

The incident had increased tensions between Britain and China.

China’s foreign ministry maintained that Chen had illegally entered the consulate, and that Chinese diplomatic staff had the right to maintain security on their premises. - AP