Hong Kong – British Consulate employee detained in China, released
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British consulate employee Simon Cheng Man-Kit was released after 15 days in administrative detention in China on Saturday morning, according to Shenzhen police.
A Facebook page run by Cheng’s family confirmed the news and thanked everyone for their support: “Simon and his family wish to have some time to rest and recover, and will not take any interview for the moment.” The UK has welcomed his release.
The 28-year-old, a trade and investment officer at the Scottish Development International section of the consulate, attended a business event in Shenzhen on August 8 via the Lo Wu control point. But he never returned to the city despite a prior plan to come back the same day on the Express Rail Link, his girlfriend said.
Mr Cheng, 28, is a trade and investment officer at the Scottish Development International section of the consulate, reports local outlet HKFP.
The report says Mr Cheng studied in Taiwan and the UK before returning to Hong Kong.
Mr Cheng travelled to a business event in Shenzhen on 8 August via the Lo Wu crossing.
His girlfriend said he planned to travel home by train the same day but did not return. In messages to his girlfriend, he wrote that he was passing through the border, adding “pray for me”.
