Jeremy Hunt faces major diplomatic row with China after expressing support for Hong Kong protesters In an interview with Channel 4 News, the Foreign Secretary said he was ‘very concerned’ about Beijing’s reaction

Jeremy Hunt was caught up in a major diplomatic row with Beijing after its ambassador personally accused him of damaging UK-Chinese relations by expressing support for the Hong Kong protests.

The Foreign Secretary was forced to break off from campaigning in the Conservative leadership contest by responding to the escalating row.

China’s envoy to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, was summoned to the Foreign Office after making the extraordinary comments in which he directly referred to Mr Hunt.

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The dispute appeared to be triggered by a tweet sent by the Foreign Secretary on Monday in which he hailed Hong Kong’s protesters, who were marking the July 1 anniversary of the handover of the territory.

Diplomatic dispute

Away from campaigning want to stress UK support for Hong Kong and its freedoms is UNWAVERING on this anniversary day. No violence is acceptable but HK people MUST preserve right to peaceful protest exercised within the law, as hundreds of thousands of brave people showed today. — Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) July 1, 2019

The leadership contender wrote: “Away from campaigning want to stress UK support for Hong Kong and its freedoms is UNWAVERING on this anniversary day. No violence is acceptable but HK people MUST preserve right to peaceful protest exercised within the law, as hundreds of thousands of brave people showed today.”

Monday’s unrest had followed weeks of protests over a controversial bill allowing political activists to be extradited from Hong Kong to the mainland.

In a rare press conference, Mr Liu said: “I think it is totally wrong for Jeremy Hunt to talk about the freedom – this is not a matter about the freedom, it’s a matter about breaking laws in Hong Kong.

“It’s very disappointing when the senior officials of his calibre show support of these law-breaking people. We all remember what Hong Kong was 22 years ago under British rule: there was no freedom, democracy, whatever.”

‘Mutual respect’

The envoy added: “I think the relationship in a way has been damaged by the interference of the British Government in Hong Kong because, as I said, the fundamental principles guiding our two countries is mutual respect.

“If the British Government go further it will cause further damages, so that is why I’m calling the British Government to reflect the consequences of its words and deeds with regards to Hong Kong.

“The UK government chose to stand on the wrong side. It has made inappropriate remarks not only to interfere in internal affairs of Hong Kong but also to back up the violent law-breakers.”

‘Dressing down’

Within hours of making his comments Mr Liu was summoned to the Foreign Office for a dressing down by the Head of the Diplomatic Service, Sir Simon McDonald, for what a source said were “unacceptable and inaccurate” comments.

In an interview with Channel 4 News, the Foreign Secretary said he was “very concerned” about Beijing’s reaction, adding: “We want to be the best of friends with China, we want to trade with China, but we expect all countries that we have internationally binding agreements with to honour those agreements.”

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Theresa May revealed she had raised her concerns over the unrest when she met Chinese leaders at the recent G20 summit.