Beijing urges swift British response to burning of Chinese flag, Hong Kong pro-independence chants outside its London embassy
- Protesters at Chinese embassy in Britain also accused of lashing out at front gate during National Day demonstration
- Beijing says flag desecration, pro-independence chants fall foul of Hong Kong’s ‘long arm’ national security law
Beijing’s diplomatic mission in London has urged the British authorities to deliver swift justice against a group of protesters who burned the Chinese flag, chanted for Hong Kong independence and were accused of vandalism outside its embassy in the English capital.
The protesters were said to have trampled on and burned several five-starred red flags, while some threw unknown liquid on, and attached anti-China posters to, the embassy’s metal gate, which was allegedly kicked and beaten with wooden sticks. London police said they were investigating an allegation of criminal damage.
“A dozen ‘Hong Kong independence’ rioters set fire to the national flag of China, assaulted the main gate of the embassy building and put up ‘Hong Kong independence’ slogans on the gate,” a spokesman said, describing the demonstration as “blatant, flagrant and abominable acts of vandalising and insult”.
“Their actions amounted to grave desecration of the dignity of the country and the nation, and … challenge to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China and threat to the security and safety of the premises and staff of the Chinese embassy,” he said.