The Chinese government confirmed Wednesday the detention of an employee of the British Consulate in Hong Kong, who had disappeared since August 8, in a context of tension due to protests in the former British colony.
"A Chinese domestic affair"
Geng Shuang, a spokesman for Chinese diplomacy, told a press point that the man was being held for 15 days in Shenzhen, the neighboring Chinese city of Hong Kong. for breaking a public safety law.
Geng Shuang did not specify exactly what facts were alleged against him or whether he would be released after being detained. He stressed that he was not of British but Hong Kong nationality, "that is to say Chinese". "It is therefore entirely a Chinese domestic affair," said the spokesman.
Tension between Beijing and London
The British Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it was "extremely concerned" by reports of the arrest in China of an employee of his consulate. Hong Kong police had confirmed the opening of an investigation into a case of disappearance on August 9.
The case comes as relations between Beijing and London are tense by protests that have been going on for more than two months in the former British colony returned to China in 1997. The Chinese spokesman again accused the British government on Wednesday. "to fan the flames" of the protest against Beijing's influence in Hong Kong.