A senior Chinese diplomat was involved in unrest following a protest outside the consulate in Manchester, a Conservative MP has said.
Dozens of people from Hong Kong held a pro-democracy protest outside the Chinese consulate on Sunday, with footage showing a man kicking and ripping down posters.
Shortly after, several other men dragged a protester into the grounds of the consulate and beat him up.
Using parliamentary privilege, which allows MPs to speak freely without fear of legal action, foreign affairs committee chair Alicia Kearns said consul-general Zheng Xiyuan had been involved in unrest before the violence broke out.
The Tory MP told the Commons: “On Sunday these peaceful protesters gathered outside the Chinese consulate to campaign for human rights in Hong Kong.
“What we saw was the Chinese consul general then ripping down posters and peaceful protest and soon followed grievous bodily harm against a Hong Konger, one of whom was hospitalised for taking part in a peaceful protest.
“Some were then dragged on to consulate territory for a further beating by officials who have been recognised to be members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
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‘I was thinking I might die’: Hong Kong pro-democracy protester on Chinese consulate attack in Manchester
Hong Kong pro-democracy protester dragged into Chinese consulate grounds in Manchester and beaten up
“We cannot allow the CCP to import their beating of protesters, their silencing of free speech and their failure to allow time and time again protests on British soil. This is a chilling escalation.”
The demonstrator attacked in the grounds of the Chinese consulate, known as Bob Man, told Sky News it would have come as no surprise if he had died.
He has been left with injuries to his body and face from being kicked and punched.
He told Sky News: “In that moment, I was thinking I might die inside because it’s not surprising they’d do that. If the police officer didn’t pull me out, I’d have died inside and they could do nothing.
“I saw one of the Hong Kongers being grabbed inside the consulate. I went straight away to help and then four consulate staff tried to grab me into the garden as well.
“It all happened too fast. I tried holding on to the gates but couldn’t hold for too long – they then threw me to the ground and started to kick and punch me.”
UK Foreign Office minister Jesse Norman said China’s charge d’affaires had been summoned “to express His Majesty’s government’s deep concern of the incident and to demand an explanation for the actions of the consular staff”.
Speaking in the Commons, he told MPs that Greater Manchester Police had been notified of the demonstration and “intervened to restore order”, adding: “I understand that Greater Manchester Police has launched an investigation to establish the facts of the incident.”
He said it would be inappropriate to go into further detail until the investigation has concluded, adding: “But let me be clear that peaceful protest, as this house has always recognised, is a fundamental part of British society and of our way of life.
“All those on our soil have the right to express their views peacefully without fear of violence.”
The meeting will take place later on Tuesday, Mr Norman said.
The summons comes after China accused “disturbing elements” of illegally entering its consulate.
“Disturbing elements illegally entered the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester and endangered the security of Chinese diplomatic premises,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in response to a question during a news conference in Beijing.
“Diplomatic institutions of any country have the right to take the necessary measures to safeguard the peace and dignity of their premises.”
