In a landmark case, two men have become the first in British history to be found guilty of spying for China. Chi Leung Wai, a UK Border Force officer, and Chung Biu Yuen, a Hong Kong trade official based in London, were convicted at the Old Bailey of assisting a foreign intelligence service. Their activities included surveillance of dissidents in what prosecutors described as a 'shadow policing' operation.
Details of the Convictions
Wai, 38, who worked at Heathrow Airport and volunteered as a City of London special constable, was also found guilty of misconduct in public office for unauthorized searches of Home Office databases. Yuen, 65, also known as Bill, was accused of directing Wai's surveillance efforts. Both men, dual Chinese and British nationals, denied the charges but were found guilty by majority verdicts. Sentencing by Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb will occur at a later date.
Failed Verdicts on Foreign Interference
After extensive deliberation, jurors could not reach a verdict on additional charges of foreign interference against the men. The prosecution confirmed it would not seek a retrial on those counts. A third accused, former Royal Marine Matthew Trickett, 37, was found dead in a park near his home shortly after being bailed in May 2024. He had previously attempted suicide while in custody.
Nature of the Espionage Operation
The nine-week trial revealed that Wai collected intelligence on orders from Yuen, a senior manager at the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office in London, described as an extension of the Hong Kong government. Targets included Nathan Law, an exiled Hong Kong pro-democracy leader, who had a £100,000 bounty placed on him by Chinese authorities. Wai also infiltrated pro-democracy groups and sought information on British politicians such as former Conservative minister Iain Duncan Smith and Labour peer Helena Kennedy.
Discovery and Arrest
The spying ring was uncovered when police thwarted an apparent kidnapping attempt of Monica Kwong, a personal assistant who fled Hong Kong after being accused of fraud. Wai was arrested in her flat along with Trickett and others. The group had posed as electricians and used a fake flood as a ruse to gain entry. Police, who had been monitoring the operation, arrested them as they broke in.
Background of the Convicts
Wai, known as 'Fatboy' to associates, had a military background, serving in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines before joining the Royal Navy police. He was also a lion dancing instructor whose troupe performed at 10 Downing Street. He claimed his intelligence-sharing was related to his lion dancing master's company, but messages between him and Yuen referred to activists as 'cockroaches.'
Official Reactions
Home Office minister Dan Jarvis condemned the activities as an infringement of UK sovereignty, stating that the Foreign Office would summon the Chinese Ambassador to protest. A Chinese embassy spokesperson dismissed the case as a political move to embolden anti-China elements, asserting it was an abuse of law and judicial process.
