Diplomats Visit Detained HK-based Canadian

Diplomats have visited a Canadian think tank expert whose detention on the mainland is believed to be an attempt to pressure Canada to release Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

Diplomats said Canadian consular officials visited Hong Kong-based former diplomat Michael Kovrig on Monday. No details were given in keeping with privacy rules.

Chinese official media have accused Korvig, an Asia expert at the International Crisis Group, of acting with Canadian businessman Michael Spavor to steal state secrets.

Both were arrested on December 10 after Meng was arrested in Vancouver on December 1 at the request of US authorities who want her extradited to face fraud charges.

In a statement, Canada said it was concerned about the men's "arbitrary" detentions and called for their immediate release.

Meng, who is the daughter of Huawei Technologies’ founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei, is currently on bail. She was allowed to shift to her second home in an upscale neighbourhood earlier this month and is guarded by private security guards that she is paying for. (AP)