Chinese state media has accused a worker at the British consulate in Hong Kong who is detained in mainland China of visiting prostitutes โ an accusation often used by the authorities to smear the reputation of government critics.
Simon Cheng, 28, a trade and investment officer for Scottish Development International, travelled to Shenzhen, a city that borders Hong Kong , on 8 August. He sent messages to his girlfriend as he was about to cross back over the border at about 10pm and has not been heard from since.
The Global Times reported that it was Cheng who requested police not to notify his family. In recent years, many Chinese activists have been forced to speak against their will and confess to alleged crimes on state media. On Sunday more than a million Hong Kong residents defied a police ban and poured into the streets on Sunday in a peaceful march , calling for the withdrawal of a controversial extradition bill and making other demands. Reports have emerged that many Hong Kong residents have been interrogated upon entering mainland China , taken into rooms, their messages and photos on their phones and computers checked along with documents they carried.
China has a long history of arresting dissidents, activists and government critics on trumped up sex or financial crimes. In Ou Shaokun, an anti-corruption activist , was given five days of administrative detention for allegedly soliciting a prostitute, although he said he was framed. In , Peng Ming , a prominent pro-democracy activist was given 15 days in custody for allegedly visiting prostitutes. He is due to be released on Friday.
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