UK charges three with working for Hong Kong intelligence

The British police have charged three men with aiding Hong Kong’s foreign intelligence service.

These men were detained alongside several others during a series of raids across the United Kingdom last week, as announced by the police on Monday. This operation is the latest in a series of actions targeting suspected Russian and Chinese spies across Europe.

The charged individuals were set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, facing charges under the National Security Act, which was passed last year to strengthen measures against espionage threats from foreign states.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, stated, “Although these offences are concerning, I want to assure the public that we do not believe there is any broader threat to them.”

According to the London police, 11 people were detained earlier this month, most of them from Yorkshire in northern England.

The individuals charged are Chi Leung Wai, 38, Matthew Trickett, 37, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, all from southeast England.

Seven other men and one woman were not charged and were later released from custody.

Police stated that the investigation is ongoing, without providing further details on the charges.

Spate of Spying Charges

These arrests occur amidst growing concerns across Europe regarding intelligence operations linked to China and Russia.

In late April, the UK announced the arrest of two individuals suspected of providing “prejudicial information” to Beijing.

On the same day, German police reported charging three citizens with supplying technologies with potential military applications to Chinese intelligence, with whom they had allegedly been collaborating since at least June 2022.

Additionally, in the same month, Germany arrested an aide to a far-right member of the European Parliament on suspicion of spying for China.

The British police noted on Monday that the charges against the trio for their involvement with Hong Kong intelligence are unrelated to an ongoing investigation involving Russia, also conducted under the National Security Act.

Last Wednesday, the British government announced the expulsion of a Russian defense attaché for espionage, as part of broader measures targeting Moscow’s intelligence activities in the UK.

Home Secretary James Cleverly explained that these measures are intended to counter the “reckless and dangerous activities of the Russian government throughout Europe.”