Beijing says its diplomats were not to blame for Sunday's altercation between its diplomats and a Hong Kong protester on the grounds of its Manchester consulate.

"Due to lawless elements' malicious harassment and illegal entry to the Chinese Consulate-General in Manchester, this caused Chinese personnel to be wounded and threatened the security of the Chinese premises," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin tells reporters at a routine briefing.

Beijing had already "made representations" to British authorities and urged London to do more to protect Chinese diplomats, he adds.