Chinese ambassador summoned by UK Foreign Office following spying charges

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by Mick the Ram

Following on 24 hours after three men were arrested and accused of assisting Hong Kong’s intelligence services, the Chinese ambassador, Zheng Zeguang was summoned by the UK Foreign Office.

The men were charged with offences under the National Security Act. The accusation is that they agreed to carry out information gathering, surveillance and acts of deception which were likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service, between 20 December 2023 and 2 May.

They have yet to enter pleas and were granted bail until 24 May, when they are due to appear at the Old Bailey.

Part of the bail conditions imposed by the District Judge, Louisa Cieciora included a curfew between 10pm and 5am, reporting weekly to their local police station, no international travel and informing police of devices used to access the internet.

Downing Street said the charges were “deeply concerning” whilst China, under which Hong Kong operates as a special administrative region, has refuted all the allegations.

Hong Kong called on UK officials to provide “full details” of the charges.

Unacceptable behaviour

The Foreign Office said it told Mr Zheng that it was unequivocal that the “recent pattern of behaviour directed by China against the UK, including cyber-attacks, reports of espionage links and the issuing of bounties” was “not acceptable”.

A spokesman confirmed that the ambassador had been summoned on the instruction of Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron. The “bounties” to which there has been reference, concern money provided for information leading to the arrest of overseas nationals.

Three men named

The three men charged are: Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38-years-old, of Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey; Matthew Trickett, 37-years-old, of Maidenhead, Berkshire; and Chung Biu Yuen, 63-years-old, of Hackney, east London. They all appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday 13 May.

Mr Wai is a UK Border Force officer and Mr Trickett is a Home Office immigration officer who served as a Royal Marine for six years. Mr Yuen, also known as Billy Yuen, is a retired Hong Kong police officer, who now works as a trade official for the territory based in London.

Eight others released after detention

The charges followed an investigation led by officers from the Met Police’s counter-terrorism command in which 11 people were detained. Eight men and a woman were arrested by officers on 1 May in the Yorkshire area, with another a day later. The final arrest occurred in London on the same day.

Seven men and the one woman were not charged and were released from custody on or before 10 May. The three who were charged spoke only to confirm their identities during their court appearance.

Chinese complain to the UK

In a statement, the Chinese embassy described the allegations as “groundless and slanderous” and stated that they had complained to the UK government about its “wrongful behaviour” including the “unwarranted accusation” against the Hong Kong government.

They went on to stress that the UK has “no right and is in no position to point fingers at and meddle in Hong Kong affairs”.

Chair-person relieved at summons

Alicia Kearns, who is the chair of the foreign affairs committee, said the Chinese ambassador being summoned was “a relief to hear and long overdue”. She added: “Hostile interference on UK soil is a serious issue for which we should have absolutely zero tolerance and we must be absolute on that with all countries.”

One of arrested trio reported to be “known” to HK leader

In an awkward moment for Hong Kong’s leader John Lee, he was forced to deny knowing Mr Yuen personally, after a photo of the two men – believed to date back to 2002 – began circulating online and in the media.

He did state to the press that his government had requested more information from the UK regarding the accusations and was still “waiting for a reply”.