UK summons Chinese ambassador over torture claim

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says London is 'shocked and appalled' by the mainland's 'torture' of Hong Kong man Simon Cheng. File photo: AFP

The British government said on Wednesday that it had summoned Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming over the "brutal" treatment of a former worker at its consulate in Hong Kong who claims he was tortured in Shenzhen in the summer.



Simon Cheng, who went missing for around two weeks after going on a day-trip to Shenzhen in August, said on Wednesday that he had beaten and interrogated for days, with mainland police accusing him of being a spy for the UK and of stirring up Hong Kong's anti-government protests.



"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," British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.



"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 statement, released by the British Consultate-General in Hong Kong, said Britain is working to support Cheng and his fiancée, including for them to "come to the UK".



However, in an account of his ordeal posted on Facebook, Cheng said he now feels vulnerable because of a lack of support and protection.



He said that after negotiating a severance package with the UK, he was asked to resign from the consulate in November.



Cheng added that he later fled to a third country for safety and is now seeking asylum – without saying where.