Mr. Hague said that more than a week after he was informed of the case and instructed officials to seek a probe, on Feb. 15, the deputy head of mission of the British Embassy in Beijing met officials from the consular department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey the message.

WSJ: U.K. Details Response to Heywood's Death

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was providing consular assistance to the family and was in close contact with its international partners and a wide range of other contacts in order to establish the facts of the situation.

BBC: Map of Algeria showing In Amenas