Statement: Hong Kong Watch condemns the treatment of Simon Cheng by the Chinese authority

The treatment of Simon Cheng is utterly appalling as he revealed the details about his arbitrary arrest and detention by the Chinese authority on BBC. There have never been British black hands behind the protests, only Hongkongers standing for freedom. Simon was a member of staff at the British Consulate Hong Kong at the time of arrest. For a UK consulate staff to have been treated in this way is a total outrage.

Simon Cheng is a British National (Overseas) Passport holder, a British National tortured by Chinese state security bureau interrogators. This is why we have been campaigning for greater rights for those who hold BNO passports. It is vital that the UK government act now.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab gave a statement on 20 November on the detention and mistreatment of Simon Cheng, saying:

Simon Cheng was a valued member of our team. We were shocked and appalled by the mistreatment he suffered while in Chinese detention, which amounts to torture.

I summoned the Chinese Ambassador to express our outrage at the brutal and disgraceful treatment of Simon in violation of China’s international obligations. I have made clear we expect the Chinese authorities to investigate and hold those responsible to account.

The FCO is working to support Simon and his fiancée, including to come to the UK.