Chinese journalist charged with assault after 'slapping Tory activist' at Birmingham party conference

Reporter for Chinese state television allegedly attacked volunteer while being ejected from fringe event

A Chinese journalist has been charged with assault after allegedly slapping an activist at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.

Kong Linlin, a UK-based reported for state-owned China Central Television, was arrested following a confrontation with Enoch Lieu on 30 September.

The 48-year-old is said to have attacked the Tory party member, who had asked her to leave fringe event she had been accused of disrupting.

Panellists had been discussing political freedoms in Hong Kong, a former British colony, at the event organised by the Conservatives’ human rights commission.

In footage of the altercation, Ms Kong can be seen shouting and lashing out at Mr Lieu.

West Midlands Police confirmed the journalist, of King’s Cross, London, had been charged with common assault and was due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on 7 November.

Ms Kong was asked to leave the event after she began shouting at a speaker, who she accused of being a "liar" and “anti-China”.

The speaker, Benedict Rogers, founder of monitoring group Hong Kong Watch, later said: "She was asked to leave because all she was doing was shouting abuse and lies ... We welcome questions and opinions; we don’t welcome shouting, screaming, lying and assault. It’s that simple.”

In the video, Ms Kong can be heard refusing to leave as Mr Lieu, who was volunteering at the event, attempts to escort her out. She shows her press accreditation badge and says: “You are not democratic in the UK. I am a journalist here."

While some independent Hong Kong media speculated the journalist’s actions may have been a stunt to “further her career”, she was praised by many in China following the incident and was defended by her government.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in London said at the time she had “simply raised a question and expressed her opinions”, describing her ejection as “completely unacceptable” and demanding an apology.