UK Border Officer Convicted of Aiding Chinese Spying on Hong Kong Dissidents
A jury in London has convicted Chi Leung "Peter" Wai, 38, a Border Force officer, and Chung Biu "Bill" Yuen, 65, a former Hong Kong police officer, of assisting Chinese intelligence agents in spying on Hong Kong dissidents living in the UK. The convictions are under the UK's National Security Act and misconduct in public office, with Wai found guilty of misusing government computer systems to monitor activists.
Prosecutors alleged that Wai used confidential immigration data to identify activists and monitor protesters as part of espionage activities linked to Chinese authorities, with the operation forming part of a "shadow policing" network that gathered information on Hong Kong activists who had sought refuge in Britain.
The investigation revealed that Wai had previously served in the Royal Navy, worked with the Metropolitan Police, and joined Border Force in 2020, with prosecutors arguing that those roles gave him access and expertise that aided surveillance activities supporting Beijing.
The convictions have sparked concerns among Hong Kong activists living in the UK, with many expressing fear of surveillance and intimidation, and the court will now proceed to sentencing, with the exact dates to be determined.