Three individuals charged with collaborating with Hong Kong intelligence in the UK were released on stringent bail conditions following their court appearance.
The accused are Chi Leung Wai, 38, a border officer at Heathrow Airport; Matthew Trickett, 37, an immigration enforcement official; and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, the office manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office. They were detained after allegedly attempting to break into the home of a Hong Kong dissident in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, on May 1. Wai, who holds dual British-Hong Kong citizenship, is also a special constable with the City of London Police, and Trickett has a background as a Royal Marines commando.
On Monday, District Judge Louisa Cieciora mandated that the trio surrender their passports, follow a strict 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, report weekly to the police, and allow their computers, phones, and other smart devices to be inspected. They are expected to appear in court again on May 24.
The intended target of the break-in remains unidentified, though the South China Morning Post speculated it could be Nathan Law Kwun-chung, an exiled Hong Kong student leader who was granted political asylum in the UK in 2020. Law is one of eight exiled activists for whom Hong Kong authorities are offering a $127,700 bounty for information leading to their capture under the national security law.
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat described the National Security Act 2023, which applies to Wai, Trickett, and Yuen, as a significant development that allows the UK to counter foreign intelligence operations and hostile forces. He emphasized, "We will not tolerate attempts to threaten, harass, or silence people in the UK. Our commitment to defending the rights and freedoms we value is unwavering. We will continue to prioritize the protection of the British public and our national security."
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman called the incident a wake-up call, asserting it was time to label China a "hostile state." This view was supported by senior Conservative MP Bob Seely, who noted a rise in espionage activities from Russia and China, along with subversive actions from Iran.
In response to the incident, the Home Office initiated an urgent review of Border Force and Immigration Enforcement recruitment vetting and supervision.
Diplomatic tensions increased when it was revealed that Yuen is a university classmate of Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee. Lee confirmed that the two had been photographed together and demanded full transparency from UK authorities, accusing them of fabricating the case and making baseless allegations against Hong Kong officials.
Beijing also expressed strong disapproval, with its embassy in London demanding that the UK cease its "anti-China political manipulation" and protect the legitimate rights of its citizens in Britain.
"We strongly reject and condemn the UK's baseless accusations against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government," stated the embassy.
"For some time now, the UK has leveled a series of unfounded allegations against China, including those involving 'Chinese spies' and cyberattacks.
These accusations are unfounded and defamatory. The British side has also arbitrarily harassed, arrested, and detained Chinese nationals in the UK under the guise of judicial and national security concerns. This is a serious provocation against China and a blatant violation of international norms."
The statement warned the UK against further actions that could harm China-UK relations and urged them not to interfere in Hong Kong's affairs, which was returned to China in 1997 after 156 years of British colonial rule.