Britain Concerned at Reports HK Consulate Worker Held in China

Protesters hold up placards as they gather in central London to attend a march organized by StandwithHK and D4HK in support of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, on Aug. 17, 2019. Isabel Infantes/AFP/Getty Images

HONG KONG—Britain said on Aug. 20 it was “extremely concerned” by reports that a staff member at the consulate in its former colony of Hong Kong had been detained in mainland China.

Simon Cheng didn’t return to work on Aug. 9 after visiting the neighboring mainland city of Shenzhen the previous day, Hong Kong news website HK01 reported, citing an interview with his girlfriend and family.