A FOREIGN Office employee working for a Scottish Government agency told his girlfriend “pray for me” moments before trying to travel out of China where it is believed he is being detained.
Simon Cheng Man-kit, who is employed by the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong but works for Scottish Development International – the inward investment agency – went missing after crossing the border on a business trip on August 8. The Scottish Government voiced concern for his welfare.
Local media reported that Cheng attended a business meeting in Shenzhen in south-eastern China and planned to return to Hong Kong via high-speed train the same night.
When he failed to return to work the next day, his family, including his girlfriend Li, informed the police.
Li, who met Cheng when they were both studying in the UK, told news outlet HK01 that he had contacted her shortly before the border crossing.
She shared screenshots of messages from Cheng on WeChat, which is believed to be monitored by the Chinese government, as well as a conversation on WhatsApp.
“Ready to pass through the border,” one WhatsApp message read at 10.40pm. Cheng added: “Pray for me.”
The Hong Kong citizen then added in a message on WeChat: “Passing through, pray for me.”
HK01 also reported that Cheng told colleagues during the trip to delete WeChat before they crossed the border back into Hong Kong.
Cheng’s disappearance comes after weeks of pro-democracy protests sparked by a now-suspended bill that would have allowed extraditions from Hong Kong into China.
Hong Kong authorities confirmed he had not been arrested in the territory before it was discovered he had been detained in China.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are aware of this incident and we are concerned for Mr Cheng’s welfare.
“We are liaising with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who are in contact with Mr Cheng’s family, the authorities in Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and are seeking further information.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here