CCTV footage of Manchester consulate shows staff member grabbed by protestors

On Sunday October 16th, a group of Hong Kong independence activists staged a protest in front of the General Consulate in Manchester. A video emerged that appeared to show a brawl between protesters and staff during a demonstration. On October 18th, the Chinese consulate in Manchester gave the CCTV footage to the Manchester Evening News regarding the incident. The consul-general Zheng Xiyuan also revealed the contents of a letter he has written to the 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 CCTV footage appeared to show the consulate grounds were stormed by the protesters and members of consular staff were required to physically fend off unauthorised entry and subsequent assaults. The footage revealed that one of the protesters 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 the consulate compound. The attacker persistently refused to let go and plunged into the premise himself. Several consular staff members tried to pull him off, the attacker continued attacking.

Consul-general Zheng 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'.

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.

Consul-general Zheng said he had been in Manchester for four years with his wife and enjoyed the friendship with this city and its citizens, however. "I do not want this friendship to be damaged by the accident," he said.

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."

"Any personal assault is illegal. It is clear from the footage that there is a personal assault, not a legitimate self-defense. It has nothing to do with their reason of protest in the first place. They can demonstrate a protest peacefully, but physical assualts are illegal."Said Xiaojiu Zhu PhD MBE, founder and Chairman of the UK Society of Chinese Lawyers.