Chinese diplomats at centre of Manchester consulate row return home

Consular staff wanted for questioning by police over beating up of activists recalled to Beijing

China's consul general and five other diplomats have returned home and will escape questioning by Manchester police for their role in the beating up of a pro-Hong Kong democracy demonstrator outside the consulate in the city on 16 October.

The Chinese, citing diplomatic immunity, decided to recall the diplomats after the UK Foreign Office gave the embassy a week to make the diplomats available for questioning by British police.