Two men found guilty of spying on Hong Kong dissidents in UK for China
CNN • • world
Key Points:
- Two men, including a British immigration officer, were convicted in London for spying on behalf of Hong Kong and China, targeting pro-democracy dissidents residing in the UK between December 2023 and May 2024.
- Chung Biu “Bill” Yuen and Chi Leung “Peter” Wai, both dual Chinese-British nationals and UK Border Force employees, were found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service and face up to 14 years in jail.
- The case marks the first known convictions for spying for China in Britain, amid ongoing strained UK-China relations following the 2019 Hong Kong protests and repeated espionage accusations.
- Prosecutors revealed the men conducted surveillance on activists and British political figures, with Hong Kong authorities offering bounties for information on dissidents like Nathan Law, causing fear among the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK.
- UK officials condemned the spying activities, with the Chinese ambassador summoned to London, while security concerns continue to challenge efforts to improve bilateral ties despite recent diplomatic engagements.
