London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Beijing urges swift UK response to Hong Kong protest outside London embassy

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.

Envoys also called for Britain to improve protections for the embassy in Marylebone, where about 10 black-clad and masked protesters gathered on Thursday afternoon, China’s National Day, according to Hong Kong media reports.

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.

They also reportedly chanted slogans such as “Hong Kong independence, the only way” and “Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our times”, while singing Glory to Hong Kong, the de facto anthem of last year’s anti-government protests
in the city.

Three police officers arrived at the embassy only after the protesters left.

In a statement, the embassy said the demonstration had violated China’s national flag legislation and Hong Kong’s national security law, which criminalises acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, and was drafted to cover offences committed outside the Asian financial hub.

“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.

The spokesman added: “These acts fully reveal the ugly nature of ‘Hong Kong independence’ elements as violent perpetrators and their true agenda of disrupting China and destabilising Hong Kong.”

The Chinese embassy said it had lodged solemn representation to the British police and its foreign office, urging the authorities there to investigate and “bring the perpetrators to justice at an early date”.

However, a British government spokesman said: “People in the UK have the right to gather together and to demonstrate their views, provided that they do so within the law. The UK takes its obligation to protect diplomatic buildings and personnel seriously.”

In Britain, the specific act of burning a flag is not, in and of itself, illegal, but there may be a number of offences potentially committed by doing so. For example, if the act is done in a way that results in harassment, alarm or distress, criminal damage or arson.

Beijing’s diplomatic mission went on to call upon the British government to ensure the security, safety and dignity at its consulates in Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast, as well as the embassy in west London.

“The Chinese embassy in the UK also urges the UK side to take concrete measures to fulfil its responsibilities … as the receiving state [and] safeguard the inviolability of diplomatic and consular missions.”

The Post has approached London’s Metropolitan Police, for comment.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×