17 October 2022 – The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation strongly condemn the actions which took place the at Chinese Consulate in Manchester over the weekend. Pro-democracy and anti-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) protesters’ signs were kicked down and destroyed outside the Consulate, before one of the protesters was dragged inside the grounds and beaten. We now believe the person beating him up was the Consul General. For these violent attacks to happen in the UK is utterly outrageous, the UK is a democracy and those living here have the right to protest. The Chinese Consulate’s statement to the BBC defended their actions by stating that “diplomatic missions wouldn’t tolerate their head of state being derogated by protestors.” This does not excuse the violent action that was taken. The response mirrored actions taken by Hong Kong police against pro-democracy protestors and should not be tolerated in the UK. The CFHK Foundation urges the Home Secretary Suella Braverman and the Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to start an investigation into the attacks, the UK Government cannot allow this to go without consequence. CFHK Foundation President, Mark Clifford, said: “To witness attacks against Hong Kong pro-democracy protestors in the UK is something which should absolutely not be tolerated. Hong Kongers move to the UK with the understanding that they are moving to a democracy and have the ability to protest for what they believe in. “The attacks in Manchester show the reach of the CCP and that it will stop at nothing to silence those who oppose the regime. An assault on protestors is an assault on democracy and the UK Government and the Greater Manchester Police must respond accordingly.”
About CFHK The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation presses for political and economic consequences for China’s failure to keep its promises to respect Hong Kong’s freedoms; supports the rule of law, freedom of expression, and the release of political prisoners; and urges the business community to stand against China’s assault on freedom and the danger it poses to Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. Hong Kong’s fate is linked to the preservation of freedom, democracy, and international law in the region and around the world. For more information, please contact: media@thecfhk.org www.thecfhk.org @thecfhk