The Chinese consulate in Manchester has given the Manchester Evening News footage from its CCTV feed after a protest outside - and claimed two members of its own staff were assaulted in the violence that followed.
The consul-general Zheng Xiyuan, one of China's most senior diplomats in the UK, also revealed the contents of a letter he has written to Greater Manchester Police. He said he was waiting to hear back from the force over a proposed meeting and confirmed the footage would be handed over to officers.
The development came as MPs were told the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, has issued a summons to the Chinese ambassador to the UK's deputy in London to demand an explanation for the actions of consulate staff after what he called 'apparent scenes of violence against' against Hong Kong protestors.
Mr Cleverly tweeted tonight: "I’ve ordered the summoning of the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires to demand an explanation for the shocking scenes outside the Chinese Consulate-General in Manchester on Sunday. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right in United Kingdom and the Chinese Government must respect that."
Police said on Sunday an investigation was underway after a man was 'dragged into the consulate grounds and assaulted'. The man was 'removed' from the grounds by police over 'fears for his safety' and was later treated in hospital, the force said.
Foreign Office minister Jesse Norman said the UK Government was 'extremely concerned at the apparent scenes of violence' at the consulate and had told the Chinese embassy of the need to allow people to protest peacefully.
Scuffles erupted outside the consulate on Denison Road in Rusholme after 30 to 40 pro-Hong Kong democracy protesters gathered and put up posters. Consul-general Xiyuan, in an interview with the Manchester Evening News , confirmed he went outside and got caught up in the violence, but wasn't injured. He's on the video footage, sent to the MEN by the Chinese consulate and shown above, within which the red circles depict what the Chinese consulate claim is their staff being attacked.
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.
However Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, told the Commons the Chinese consul general was seen 'ripping down posters' before 'grievous bodily harm against a Hongkonger'. GMP also said a man was 'dragged' into the grounds and attacked.
But in his letter to police, Consul-general Xiyuan claimed a large image of Xi Jinping, China's President, with a noose around his neck was displayed, together with slogans on banners written in Chinese which read 'God kill CPC' and 'F*** your mother'. The CPC refers to the Communist Party of China.
He alleged: "Similar slogans were also shouted by the protesters throughout."
Consul-general Xiyuan said he believed the shouting and slogan displays were 'deliberately designed to provoke, harass, alarm and distress our consular staff' and as a result were contrary to the Public Order Act. He claimed the protestors were 'asked politely' to remove the slogans and imagery 'but refused to do so'.
"At one point the consulate grounds were stormed by a group of protestors and members of consular staff were required to physically fend off unauthorised entry and subsequent assaults," wrote Consul-general Xiyuan.
"During the ensuing scuffle, one of the protestors grabbed a member of consular staff by the neck and refused to let go. In an effort to free the staff member, other members of staff pulled their colleague into our compound. Despite this, the attacker persistently refused to let go and plunged into the property himself.
"Despite several of our staff attempting to pull him off, the attacker continued assaulting our staff member and so our staff were forced to disentangle his hands.
"Eventually the attacker was removed with the assistance of the police but not before our staff member received injuries."
However, protesters also claim one of their number was 'dragged' into the consulate and beaten, with Ms Kearns saying one of those allegedly beaten was taken to hospital. A man allegedly beaten, named Bob, said he reportedly had hair pulled from his scalp and a second protester claimed “they dragged me inside, they beat me up".
Consul-general Xiyuan said he had been in Manchester for four years with his wife, however. "I do not want this friendship damaged by this," he said. "I so enjoy the friendship with this city and its citizens."
He said there was no prior notification of the protest and staff called police.
"We are respectful of the right to protest, as guaranteed under UK law, and a number of protests have been held in front of the consulate over the years, all of which have passed off uneventfully."
Ms Kearns, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, told the Commons today: "On Sunday these peaceful protesters gathered outside the Chinese consulate to campaign for human rights in Hong Kong.
"What we saw was the Chinese consul general then ripping down posters and peaceful protest and soon followed grievous bodily harm against a Hongkonger, one of whom was hospitalised for taking part in a peaceful protest. Some were then dragged on to consulate territory for a further beating by officials who have been recognised to be members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)."
She asked the minister whether any Chinese official involved would be prosecuted or 'expelled from the country'. China's foreign ministry, meanwhile. said its diplomatic missions abroad have the right to 'take necessary measures' to maintain security and rejected the protester’s account.
Wang Wenbin, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, told reporters: "What I want to stress is that the peace and dignity of Chinese embassies and consulates abroad must not be violated." The Chinese ambassador to the UK is believed to be out of the country.
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