China releases British consulate worker

International Desk: A worker at the UK consulate in Hong Kong has been released by mainland China after being held at the border, Chinese police in Shenzhen have said.

Simon Cheng went missing on 8 August during a business trip to the city.

China's foreign ministry confirmed that Mr Cheng had been detained for 15 days for violating public security laws. The UK had said it was "extremely concerned" by his detention.

It comes as anti-government protests in Hong Kong enter their third month.

The large-scale demonstrations were sparked by a now-suspended extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kong to send criminal suspects to China for trial.

The police said Cheng had been released as scheduled and that his legal rights had been observed, according to a post on the Weibo social media platform.

In a Facebook post which was later taken down, Simon Cheng said he "thanks you everyone for your support".

"Simon and his family wish to have some time to rest and recover," it read. " We will explain more later."

Mr Cheng, 28, is a trade and investment officer at the Scottish Development International section of the consulate, reports local outlet HKFP.

The report says Mr Cheng studied in Taiwan and the UK before returning to Hong Kong.

Mr Cheng travelled to a business event in Shenzhen on 8 August via the Lo Wu crossing.

His girlfriend said he planned to travel home by train the same day but did not return. In messages to his girlfriend, he wrote that he was passing through the border, adding "pray for me".

risingbd/Aug 24, 2019/Mukul