Senior diplomat Zheng Xiyuan was pictured pulling Bob Chan’s hair before dragging him to the Chinese consulate in Manchester. Mr Zheng told Sky News it was his “duty” and he was at the demonstration “peacefully”. Image: Chinese Consul General Zheng Xiyuan was seen pulling a protester’s hair What happened outside and on the premises of the consulate is now the focus of a diplomatic episode. The pro-democracy demonstration by Hong Kong residents began peacefully, but banners and posters, which the Chinese say they found deeply offensive, were torn down by officials, including the consul general. This led to a violent confrontation that saw Bob Chan apparently dragged into the consulate grounds and beaten by its staff – leaving him with cuts and bruises all over his body. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 2:33 Protester for ‘attack’ on Chinese consulate in Manchester But those claims were denied by Mr Zheng, who said: “I didn’t hit anyone. I didn’t let my people hit anyone. The fact is that the so-called protesters hit my people.” However, when asked about the hair-pulling incident, he said: “He (Bob Chan) was abusing my country my leader, I think it’s my duty.” Mr Zheng added: “I think it’s an emergency situation – this guy threatened my colleague’s life and we tried to control the situation. I wanted to separate him from my colleagues – this is a very critical point.” Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 1:18 The moment a protester was beaten at the Chinese consulate “They used very rude words – unacceptable” Asked why the peaceful demonstration turned violent, Mr Zheng claimed it was because of the “rude banners” displayed. In a letter sent to Greater Manchester Police, he said the banners contained a “volume of deeply offensive images and slogans”, including a picture of Chinese President Xi Jinping with a noose around his neck. Read more: China has ‘right to use force’ Why President Xi Jinping could be ‘ruler for life’ Who is Hong Kong’s new leader – and why are people worried? “I think the most serious reason for this incident is because they used very rude banners. They used very rude words, unacceptable. Everyone never accepts these kinds of words,” Mr Zheng told Sky News. “It is not right to put such banners near my gate. After I very politely advised them to remove them, they refused.” Image: Chinese consulate in Manchester where police investigate attack on pro-democracy protester in Hong Kong “I was attacked” In his letter, the consul general also said he was disappointed police did not do more to help and claimed one of the protesters grabbed a member of his staff “by the neck and refused to let go” during the ensuing melee. “I was attacked by the protesters and my colleagues were attacked and at that time we didn’t get any protection from the policeman, so we had to do something to protect ourselves,” Mr Zheng said. He added that some of his staff were injured during the incident, with videos showing a man brought from the consulate being kicked by protesters while on the floor. “It is a very serious harassment for me, the consulate and China,” he added. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 2:37 A protester was beaten at the Chinese consulate Protester ‘kicked and punched’ The protester at the center of the controversy, Bob Chan, fled Hong Kong to the UK for his safety last March, but explained how he thought he would die during the incident. “I held the gate where they kicked and punched me. I couldn’t hold on for long and finally they pulled me into the consulate area,” he said. “I am shocked and hurt by this unprovoked attack. I am shocked because I never thought something like this could happen in the UK.” But it happened here, and it is now an item on the agenda of the Secretary of State, James Cleverley. It will be up to the police to decide whether any criminal justice action is needed – and the government to determine whether there are diplomatic consequences.
