Protests lodged against UK's interpretation of Simon Cheng case

An official from China's embassy in the United Kingdom made representations to the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Tuesday regarding the case of Simon Cheng and clarified China's position, an unnamed spokesperson with the embassy said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The statement noted that the Chinese official pointed out that police from the Luohu District of Shenzhen arrested Cheng for soliciting prostitution on Aug 9 and, in accordance with article 66 of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, gave him a 15-day administrative detention.

In order to protect Cheng's privacy, and in line with his own request, the police, in compliance with the law, did not inform his family of his offense.

During Cheng's detention, the police guaranteed all of his lawful rights and interests, and there was no forced confession, as was claimed by Cheng and by the British side.

According to the regulations governing Chinese public security agencies' procedures for handling administrative cases, Cheng received a comprehensive physical examination prior to his release on Aug 24 and was in good physical shape.

Cheng's case is clear in facts, the evidence is concrete, and Cheng himself confessed to his offenses. The actions of China's law enforcement agencies were completely reasonable and legitimate, the statement added.

The spokesperson said the British side had disregarded the facts, confused right and wrong, and maliciously tarnished and denounced the regular law enforcement actions of China's law enforcement bodies.

The Chinese side expressed its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the British stance and demanded that the UK immediately and publicly corrects its mistakes, the spokesperson added.