In a recent court appearance in London, a Hong Kong trade official, along with a Border Force officer and an immigration enforcement official, faced charges related to monitoring and harassing pro-democracy activists in the UK.
The accused individuals, identified as Chung Biu Yuen, Chi Leung “Peter” Wai, and Matthew Trickett, have been charged with allegedly aiding the Hong Kong intelligence service and participating in foreign interference by unlawfully entering a British residence.
Yuen, residing in Dalston, East London, holds the position of office manager at Hong Kong’s Economic and Trade Office, which oversees trade and investment matters for the semi-autonomous region.
Wai, a dual Chinese and British citizen, serves in the Border Force at Heathrow Airport, in addition to his roles as a City of London special constable and the founder of a private security firm, D5.
Trickett, employed as a Home Office immigration enforcement officer, also operates a private security consultancy, boasting a background as a former Royal Marine commando.
During their initial hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court, the trio confirmed basic personal information but did not elaborate further.
The charges against them include unlawful information gathering, surveillance, and deceptive actions spanning from December 20, 2023, to May 2, 2024, under the National Security Act 2023.
Furthermore, they are accused of forcibly entering a UK residential address on May 1, 2024, with recklessness toward potential interference effects, as outlined in the act.
Since February 2021, over 140,000 individuals from Hong Kong have relocated to the UK following the implementation of new visa regulations, prompted by concerns over a new national security law in Hong Kong and a subsequent crackdown, which the UK criticized as a breach of previously agreed upon freedoms.
Following the arrests, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee urged British authorities for comprehensive information, confirming personal ties with one of the accused individuals, Yuen.
China’s embassy in the UK condemned the accusations against the Hong Kong government and lodged formal complaints with British officials, while China’s foreign affairs commissioner office in Hong Kong accused Britain of interfering in Hong Kong’s affairs and warned of retaliatory measures.
After a brief hearing, the defendants were granted bail with conditions, including weekly reporting to a local police station, a curfew from 10 pm to 5 am, and a travel ban. Their next court appearance is scheduled for May 24 at the Old Bailey.
These arrests were part of a larger operation that resulted in 11 arrests earlier in the month. However, eight men and a woman were released without charges by May 10.
Commander Dominic Murphy of the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command assured the public that there is no perceived broader threat while emphasizing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
The National Security Act, effective on December 20 of the previous year, represents a significant update to Britain’s espionage legislation, including amendments to the Official Secrets Acts dating back to 1911.
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