British Hong Kong consulate staff member 'tortured and hooded'

The Shenzhen secret police forced him to "confess" Britain's influence in Hong Kong's anti-government demonstrations. "Indignation" of the British Foreign Minister. Beijing: This is not a diplomatic affair.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Simon Cheng, an employee of the British consulate in Hong Kong, who was detained for 15 days by the Beijing authorities, claims to have been "tortured and hooded".

In a long testimony posted on his Facebook profile and in an interview with the BBC, he says he was chained, hooded and blindfolded.

He was severely beaten, pulled by the hair, deprived of sleep, suspended from an instrument similar to the cross of Saint Andrew to make him confess suspected involvement of Great Britain in anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong.

He was released only after revealing his mobile phone password, from which the Chinese secret police took photos and documents. Prior to his release, he had to sign a "video confession", in which he admits that he "betrayed the motherland" and "went with prostitutes".

Simon Cheng, 29, had disappeared in August on his return trip from Shenzhen. Although he was hired for the commercial department of the consulate, in agreement with his bosses he had followed, observed and reported what was happening in Hong Kong with the anti-extradition protests.

At present he is in a secret place because - he says - he does not feel safe in Hong Kong. The British Foreign Minister, Dominic Raab, has recalled the Chinese ambassador in London expressing outrage over Cheng's treatment. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang, insisted that Cheng's arrest is not a diplomatic affair.

The young man revealed there were other people arrested in connection with the Hong Kong demonstrations being kept in the place where he was detained.