A British consulate employee detained in China was arrested for soliciting prostitutes, the country's state-backed Global Times newspaper has said.

It reported Simon Cheng Man-Kit has had broken a "public security" law, which carries a penalty of detention for 10 to 15 days and a fine of 5,000 yuan (£581).

Local police referred journalists to the newspaper's story, which is published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily group.

Mr Cheng Man-Kit has not been seen for 13 days, after he failed to return to work following a business trip on 8 August to Shenzhen, which links Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland.

The 28-year-old is a trade and investment officer in the Scottish Development International government agency, inside Britain's consulate in Hong Kong.


Unconfirmed reports suggested he was detained in China while returning to the territory, where there have been mass anti-government protests.

He was on his way back by train when he called his girlfriend, urging her to "pray for me", and told her he was approaching the border when he lost contact, according to news website HK01.

The Foreign Office has said it is "extremely concerned" by the news of his arrest and is raising the case with China.

Image: The 28-year-old works for the government agency Scottish Development International

Hong Kong has been gripped by the anti-government protests for several weeks, initially over plans for a law that would allow people from the territory to be extradited to mainland China.

:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

But broader concerns about claims of police brutality and the erosion of freedoms under the "one country, two systems" formula - enacted after Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 - have now come to the fore.

The protesters want democratic reforms and the city's Beijing-backed leader, Carrie Lam, to resign.

Image: The protesters want democratic reforms

China has accused Britain and other Western countries of meddling in its affairs.

Mr Cheng Man-Kit's detention is likely to further enrage activists in Hong Kong who have been chanting "an eye for an eye" on the streets - in reference to a young woman shot in the eye by police on 11 August.