London: Following outrage in the United Kingdom over assaulting a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester, China on Tuesday accused demonstrators of “illegally entering” Beijing’s consulate in the British city of Manchester.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the protesters were to blame and that “violation of the peace and dignity of China’s overseas embassies and consulates will not be tolerated,” reports AFP.

“The troublemakers illegally entered the Chinese Consulate-General in Manchester, endangering the security of the premises,” Wang said at a daily press briefing.

He urged the UK to “earnestly fulfil its duties and take effective measures to step up protection of the premises and personnel of the Chinese embassy and consulates,” the report said.

The UK government has summoned the Chinese envoy after the consulate protester assault.

Hong Kong protester beaten up inside Chinese consulate

A Hong Kong pro-democracy protester said he was pulled inside the grounds of the Chinese consulate in the UK’s Manchester on Sunday and was beaten up before being rescued by British police and other protesters.

Unidentified men came out of the consulate and forced a man inside the compound, before he escaped with the help of police and other demonstrators, the protestor said.

The protester said that he was dragged inside and that they beat him up.

“As we tried to stop them, they dragged me inside, they beat me up,” he said, adding that he was then pulled out by the UK police.

The protester was part of a small group, who were demonstrating on Sunday, at the start of the 20th Communist party congress in Beijing.