Two men first in British history to be found guilty of spying for China | Crime

Two men have become the first individuals in British history to be convicted of spying for China, following a trial at the Old Bailey. Chi Leung “Peter” Wai, 38, and Chung Biu Yuen, 65, also known as Bill, were found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

The pair operated a “shadow policing” operation designed to surveil dissidents. Both men are dual Chinese and British nationals and denied the charges, but were ultimately convicted by majority verdicts.

Wai held positions of significant trust, working for the Border Force at Heathrow airport and serving as a City of London special constable. He was also found guilty of misconduct in public office for conducting unauthorised searches of Home Office databases.

The Scope of the Spying Operation

A nine-week trial revealed that Wai gathered intelligence under the direction of Yuen. Yuen served as a senior manager at the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office (HKETO) in London, which was described as an extension of the Hong Kong government in the UK.

The targets of the operation included Nathan Law, an exiled politician and former leader of the student protest movement in Hong Kong. Law has been the subject of multiple spying operations and faces a £100,000 bounty placed on him by Chinese authorities.

The jury heard that Wai infiltrated pro-democracy groups and attempted to gather intelligence on British political figures. These included Labour peer Helena Kennedy and former Conservative cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith.

The Takedown in West Yorkshire

The spying ring was exposed when police intervened in an attempted kidnapping of Monica Kwong. Kwong, a personal assistant who fled Hong Kong in 2023, had been accused of defrauding her employer, Tina Zhou, of £16 million.

On 1 May 2024, Wai was arrested in Kwong’s flat in Pontefract, West Yorkshire. He was apprehended alongside Zhou, two former Hong Kong police officers, and Matthew Trickett, who was then a serving Home Office immigration officer.

The group had attempted to enter the home by pretending to be electricians repairing a fuse. Police, who had been bugging the suspects, were waiting to take them into custody when they broke into the property.

Legal Outcomes and Diplomatic Fallout

While the men were convicted of assisting a foreign intelligence service, jurors could not reach a verdict on separate charges of foreign interference under the National Security Act after nearly 24 hours of deliberation. The prosecution has stated it will not seek a retrial for those specific charges.

The case was marked by tragedy involving Matthew Trickett, a 37-year-old former Royal Marine charged alongside the others in May 2024. Trickett was found dead in a park near his home in Maidenhead, Berkshire, a week after being bailed.

Prosecutors had previously requested Trickett be remanded in custody for his own protection after he attempted to take his own life in a police cell and told custody sergeants he would kill himself upon release.

Government Response

Home Office minister Dan Jarvis described the activities as an “infringement of our sovereignty” that would “never be tolerated.” He stated that the convictions send a clear message regarding the consequences of undermining UK security.

Jarvis confirmed that the Foreign Office will summon the Chinese Ambassador to convey that such activity is unacceptable on UK soil. Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in London has previously claimed that Britain fabricated the allegations.

What Happens Next

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb is scheduled to sentence Wai and Yuen at a later date. The outcome of this sentencing may serve as a legal benchmark for future cases involving foreign intelligence assistance.

Diplomatic tensions could increase as the UK government seeks to hold China to account. A possible next step includes further scrutiny of diplomatic extensions, such as the HKETO, to prevent similar intelligence operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who were the primary targets of the spying operation?

Targets included exiled Hong Kong politician Nathan Law, as well as British politicians such as Labour peer Helena Kennedy and former Conservative cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith.

What roles did the convicted men hold?

Chi Leung “Peter” Wai worked for the Border Force at Heathrow and volunteered as a City of London special constable. Chung Biu Yuen was a senior manager at the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office (HKETO) in London.

How was the operation uncovered by police?

The ring was exposed when police thwarted an attempt to kidnap Monica Kwong in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, after the suspects posed as electricians to enter her home.

Do you believe current security vetting for government employees is sufficient to prevent foreign intelligence infiltration?