A British court on Thursday sentenced two dual Chinese-British nationals to lengthy prison terms for spying on Hong Kong dissidents living in the United Kingdom. The judge described their actions as “deliberate, concerted, and serious.”
Sentencing Details
Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grub handed down a 10-year sentence to Peter Wai, 40, a former UK Border Force official, and an eight-year sentence to Bill Yuen, 65, a retired Hong Kong police officer. The pair were found guilty of conducting what the court termed “shadow policing” on British soil on behalf of China.
Sentencing took place at London’s Old Bailey court. The judge stated that the defendants caused “real and significant” harm and left their victims in a state of “fear and distress.”
Convictions
Both men were convicted in May after a two-month trial. They were found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service under national security laws. Additionally, Wai was convicted of misconduct in a public office.
Prosecutors revealed that Wai searched the UK Home Office computer system to obtain information about individuals of interest to Hong Kong authorities. Wai had previously served in the British police and Royal Navy before joining the UK’s Border Force immigration and customs enforcement agency.
Intelligence Gathering
The jury heard that Wai gathered intelligence on instructions from Yuen, who worked as a senior manager at the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office (HKETO) in London. The HKETO represents Hong Kong’s government in the UK.
Since Hong Kong enacted a national security law in mid-2020, tens of thousands of people, including democracy activists wanted by Chinese authorities, have relocated to Britain.
Political Targets
Besides their usual targets, the pair paid “special attention” to politicians, including senior Conservative Party figure Iain Duncan Smith. Their activities included information gathering, surveillance, and deception. One operation involved photographing prominent campaigner Nathan Law.
Bounties and Strained Relations
Their activities coincided with Hong Kong authorities announcing bounties of approximately £100,000 ($132,000) for information leading to the identification of several UK-based activists, including Law.
The sweeping Hong Kong National Security Law, which severely curtailed freedoms in the former British colony, has contributed to years of strained relations between London and Beijing. Mutual accusations of spying have further worsened ties.
Political Context
Britain’s Labour government has sought to reset relations with China but has faced domestic opposition, particularly after approving plans for a new Chinese mega-embassy in London.
This case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Hong Kong’s national security legislation and its impact on international relations.
