Hong Kong separatists surround a Chinese woman on January 9, 2022, in Manchester, UK. Photo: A screenshot from Sina Weibo

A Chinese woman said her employees received death threats from some Hong Kong separatists after she tried to debate with and stop them from assaulting China as they gathered in Manchester, the UK. 

According to dotdotnews, some Hong Kong separatists gathered in Manchester at about 4:00 pm on Sunday. 

The woman, surnamed Wang, told media that these people gathered in front of her shop. 

She came out and debated with them after hearing them using the word "Shina,'' a derogatory term referring to China.

"You can have your opinions, but I won't allow you to separate my country," Wang said in a video circulating on Chinese social media platforms. 

In the video, one of the separatists - wearing black like rioters in the 2019 violent protests in Hong Kong - suddenly attacked Wang with an umbrella. 

Wang then caught the straps of the attacker's backpack when the latter tried to escape, but then about 20 separatists came and surrounded Wang. 

Wang told media that one or two separatists kept beating her on the back with elbows. Some other separatists tried to prise Wang's fingers to let the attacker go.

Wang's friend called the police, who police caught two wrong people and let them go after investigation. 

Wang told media on Monday that her hands still feel numb and the fingers cannot move. 

The separatists then doxed Wang's working partners and released their personal information online, according to media reports. 

They also left assaulting comments on a shop website belonging to Wang and deliberately booked all the reservations. 

Some employees of Wang's shop even received death threats, Wang said. 

Wang said the matter is being investigated by the police. 

Global Times