Amid pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and concerns that Beijing may intervene in the situation, a British consulate worker is reportedly being detained in China.<br />Kim Bo kyoung has the details.<br />The man missing is named Simon Cheng, a 28-year-old trade and investment officer at the UK consulate in Hong Kong.<br />According to the Hong Kong news site HK01,... Cheng was on his way back home after a trip to Shenzhen in China on August 8th.<br />After his girlfriend Li received Simon's last message, saying "Please pray for me",... she lost contact with him.<br />Li said Hong Kong immigration authorities had told her Cheng had been placed under "administrative detention" in mainland China in an unknown location and for unknown reasons.<br />The Chinese government can hold people in detention for up to 15 days without trial,... under charges of endangering national security.<br />Recently, China has increased checks at the border between Hong Kong and the mainland, and have often detained people who had videos or photos related to Hong Kong protests.<br />Yet,... Simon's girlfriend Li told the news that Simon didn't attend any of the pro-democracy protests.<br />The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office is now seeking further information from authorities in Guangdong Province and Hong Kong.<br />China's foreign ministry claims it knows nothing about the situation.<br />Meanwhile, the U.S. has made a firm stance on the events in Hong Kong,... saying Beijing's involvement might affect the U.S. trade deal with China.<br />U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told CNBC on Tuesday that it would be more difficult to reach a trade deal if China violently suppresses the protests in Hong Kong.<br />U.S. President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence also highlighted the importance of China not using violence.<br />"I'd like to see Hong Kong worked out in a very humanitarian fashion. I think it would be very good for the trade deal that we're talking about. I think it'd be very hard to deal if they do violence. I mean if it's another Tiananmen Square, I think it's a very hard thing to do if there is violence."<br />After the disappearance of the British consular, it is unclear what role the UK will play, and it's hard to predict China's next move.<br />KIM Bo-kyoung, Arirang News."<br />
