Chinese embassy in UK warns citizens after reported detentions at British border
In short
The Chinese embassy in the UK said several Chinese citizens were held and questioned for long periods when entering or leaving Britain, and that phones and other electronic devices were seized. The embassy said it has lodged serious representations with the British side and urged Chinese citizens to protect their privacy and belongings.
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The Chinese embassy in the UK said that several Chinese citizens were recently held and questioned for a long time by British border enforcement staff as they entered or left the country, and that mobile phones and other electronic devices they carried were seized. China News Service, citing a message on the embassy's WeChat account dated 19 October, reported the notice on 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the notice, the people affected included members of trade delegations visiting Britain, people who came to visit relatives privately, and ordinary tourists. The embassy said the border staff claimed to be acting under the relevant provisions of the UK Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The embassy said China is seriously concerned and has made serious representations to the British side. It said China will keep urging Britain to stop arbitrarily detaining and questioning Chinese citizens and will do its utmost to protect the personal safety and lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens in Britain. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The embassy reminded Chinese citizens already in Britain and those planning to travel there to raise their awareness of personal security, protect their property and privacy, and learn about the British side's rules and practices, so as to avoid inconvenience and loss when entering or leaving the country. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
CLS, Jiemian and Xinhua added that Chinese citizens in Britain who need consular help can call the consular protection and assistance numbers of the embassy and consulates, or the Foreign Ministry's global consular protection emergency hotline. Xinhua listed the numbers for the embassy and the consulates general in Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast. Jiemian attributed the notice to the account Lingshi Zhitongche (领事直通车). [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The notice, carried by Chinese official and business outlets, shows Beijing publicly raising border checks on its citizens in Britain with the British side. The documents give no British response, so the wider consequences are not clear.
Key facts
- The Chinese embassy in the UK said several recent cases involved Chinese citizens being held and questioned for a long time by British border enforcement staff when entering or leaving the country. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The embassy said mobile phones and other electronic devices carried by those people were seized. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The people involved included members of trade delegations visiting Britain, people visiting relatives privately, and ordinary tourists. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The embassy said British border staff claimed to be acting under the UK Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- China said it has made serious representations to the British side and will keep urging it to stop arbitrarily detaining and questioning Chinese citizens. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The embassy advised Chinese citizens in or planning to come to Britain to raise their security awareness, protect personal property and privacy, and learn the British rules and practices. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Chinese embassy in the UK said that in recent days several Chinese citizens were held and questioned for long periods at the British border and had electronic devices seized, and that China has lodged serious representations with the British side. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The embassy said British border staff cited the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 as the basis for their actions. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- How many people were detained, when and where each case happened, and for how long they were held. The documents say only that there were several recent cases and give no figures, dates, airports or names.
- The British side's account of the cases. No document carries a British comment; the border staff's stated legal basis is relayed only through the Chinese embassy.
- Whether the seized devices have been returned. The documents do not say.