Simon Cheng Man-Kit was seized on August 8 as he tried to travel back from Shenzhen on southern China to Hong Kong, and held captive for more than two weeks. Grabbed by a large group of border officials who took his phone, bag and glasses, he was taken to a police station just before midnight.
When there he was locked in a metal contraption known as a “tiger chair” which prevents movement and interrogated.
In the two weeks which followed, he was physically abused, subjected to psychological intimidation, political indoctrination, interrogated repeatedly, branded an enemy of the state for working for the UK, and accused of being a spy.
Speaking about the incident, which can be viewed against a backdrop of rising tensions, with Hong Kong already gripped by anti-government protests which are now threatening to boil over, he told the Telegraph: “I felt very scared.
Prior to speaking, he had to ask for permission by saying: “Report, my master.”
At one point the men are thought to have grabbed him by the head to unlock his work phone with biometric identification, in a bid to glean information about the UK government.
Mr Cheng was eventually released on August 24, but not before police forced him to plead guilty to soliciting prostitution by signing a statement and filming a “confession”.
No explicit reason has ever been given as to why he attracted the attention of the Chinese authorities, but it seems likely it was related to his employment at the consulate, where he works as a trade and investment officer.
He now worries about his future employment prospects, adding: “I don’t know if I can find a job anymore. I feel like I’m just a pawn.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “Simon Cheng was a valued member of our team.
“We were shocked and appalled by the mistreatment he suffered while in Chinese detention, which amounts to torture.
“I summoned the Chinese Ambassador to express our outrage at the brutal and disgraceful treatment of Simon in violation of China’s international obligations.”