There were no casualties, and the department has resumed operation, Gu Naiyi, counselor with the department, told the newspaper last night.

The building is not home to the Chinese embassy's official headquarters, "maybe a main cause of the oversight on security," Gu said.

The crime happened at 10am on Saturday when four armed men walked into the department, Gu said.

"They broke the main gate and strolled in with guns in hand," Gu recalled. "A diplomat was held hostage and we were all tied up."

Gu said the department was counting its losses from the robbery but refused to release any further information because of the police investigation.

The situation in Venezuela over the past months has been very unstable, and many Chinese are being robbed or kidnapped, a female staff member of the department told the newspaper early yesterday.

Gu said the department would tighten security measures to ensure the safety of its staff.