The Government's handling of the fall-out following violence during a protest outside the Chinese consulate in Manchester has been a 'complete mess', MPs were told today as an urgent question was tabled in the House of Commons. Britain has also warned that 'diplomatic consequences will follow' if China does not waive immunity for any officials charged with assault.
Greater Manchester Police said on Wednesday its 'complex and sensitive' investigation was ongoing, but warned it 'will take time', with no arrests made as yet. The inquiry was launched after 'a small group of men came out of the building and a man was dragged into the consulate grounds and assaulted', GMP said.
The protestor - Bob Chan - said at a press conference organised by MPs he was 'shocked' the incident took place on British soil and denied claims that he tried to enter the grounds of the consulate on Denison Road in Rusholme on Sunday.
He said: "I then found myself being dragged into the grounds of the consulate. I held onto the gates where I was kicked and punched, I could not hold on for long.
"I was eventually pulled onto the ground of the consulate. I felt punches and kicks from several men. Other protestors were trying to get me out of this situation, but to no avail. The attack only stopped when a man who turned out to be a uniformed officer from the Greater Manchester Police pulled me outside the gates.
"Let me say it again so I am clear: I was dragged into the consulate I did not attempt to enter the consulate."
Video footage of the violence was shared on social media and consul-general, Zheng Xiyuan, later shared with the Manchester Evening News footage from the consulate's own CCTV cameras, claiming two members of his staff were assaulted in the violence.
The consulate claimed a 'mob' of protestors 'stormed' its grounds after 'deeply offensive imagery and slogans' they described as 'threatening and insulting' were displayed. They alleged staff were shoved, then two men who were knocked to the ground were stamped on and kicked.
In a subsequent interview with Sky News Mr Xiyuan, who was pictured near the gates of the consulate in the footage, denied that he attacked Mr Chan after Tory MP Alicia Kearns, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, said in the Commons under privilege that 'what we saw was the Chinese consul-general then ripping down posters and peaceful protest and soon followed grievous bodily harm against a Hong Konger, one of whom was hospitalised for taking part in a peaceful protest'.
Asked about allegations he had pulled Mr Chan's hair, Mr Xiyuan said in the interview Mr Chan was 'abusing my country, my leader, I think it's my duty'.
Foreign Office minister Jesse Norman told MPs: "We have made it absolutely clear to the Chinese embassy that the apparent behaviour of consulate general officials during the incident, as it appears from footage, which even now more is coming out, is completely unacceptable.
"The independent police investigation is now under way. Greater Manchester Police have been clear there are many strands to what is a complex and sensitive inquiry and it may take some time.
"As the Foreign Secretary has said, we will await the details of the investigation, but in the meantime I’ve instructed our ambassador to deliver a clear message directly to the ministry of foreign affairs in Beijing about the depth of concern at the apparent actions of consulate general staff.
"Let me be clear: if the police determine there are grounds to charge any officials, we would expect the Chinese consulate to waive immunity for those officials. If they do not, then diplomatic consequences will follow."
Shadow Foreign Office minister Catherine West told the Commons: "The Government’s handling of this has been a complete mess and the minister will know that Labour has called for the Chinese ambassador to be summoned to demand an explanation, but, in a stunning abdication of their failure of their duties, an FCDO statement confirmed that a civil servant held a meeting with the minister Yang rather than the Foreign Secretary or a responsible minister.
"While I have the utmost confidence in the abilities of the FCDO officials to fulfil their responsibilities, there are moments in foreign policy where only a minister and an elected minister will do."
It is a 'political decision' to expel, not a 'policing decision', Ms Kearns said. She told MPs: "It is quite clear that the House is unhappy with the course the Government has taken, and I’m afraid I must challenge my right honourable friend on the comments he has made this morning. It is not apparent involvement: there are no ifs, there are no buts.
"It is a political decision to expel not a policing decision. So can he please confirm as he suggested from despatch just now that his preference is to prosecute these individuals and see them in British prisons? And secondly, what are the diplomatic consequences that he references? Is it to expel? We need plain speaking at this time."
Foreign Office minister Jesse Norman replied: "She has made clear her view that a crime was committed here, and I think that is the view that many others have taken, but it is not in fact, I think a determination of facts at the level that we would need."
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Chinese consulate violence: No arrests made as detectives give update on 'complex' investigation
