China disputes UK account of Manchester consulate ‘provocation’
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China has criticised the British foreign secretary for giving what it said was an inaccurate account of a brawl outside the Chinese consulate in Manchester in October.
China’s embassy in London said on its website that the confrontation was a “violent disruptive provocation” planned deliberately by anti-China forces, without providing evidence.
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The Greater Manchester Police said a man was dragged into the consulate and assaulted. Videos also showed another man, seen later entering the consulate, being pinned down outside the consulate gate and kicked by people hurling insults in Cantonese.
Cleverly also said on Twitter that the police had asked six Chinese officials to have their diplomatic immunity waived so they could be questioned in an investigation into the confrontation. China had removed those officials, including Consul General Zheng Xiyuan, at the request of the British government before the deadline for the waiver that expired on Wednesday, he said.