Landmark Convictions Under National Security Act
On Thursday, June 18, 2026, London's Old Bailey court sentenced two men with dual Chinese and British nationality for assisting Chinese intelligence by spying on Hong Kong pro-democracy dissidents in the UK. Chung Biu "Bill" Yuen, 66, former administrative manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London, received eight years in prison. Chi Leung "Peter" Wai, 41, a part-time UK Border Force officer, was sentenced to 10 years.
The pair were convicted last month of offenses under the UK's National Security Act 2023, marking the first such convictions for activities on behalf of China since the law took effect.
Background and Roles of the Convicted
Yuen, a retired Hong Kong police superintendent with about 37 years of service, moved to the UK in 2015 to join his family. He was hired that August as administrative manager at HKETO London, described as the office's "third in command."
Wai operated a private security company and held additional roles as a special constable with the City of London Police. Court evidence showed he abused his Border Force position by illegally accessing Home Office computer databases to gather sensitive personal details on targeted individuals and their families.
Details of the Espionage Activities
Between December 2023 and May 2024, Yuen and Wai conducted surveillance and intelligence gathering on multiple Hong Kong dissidents living in Britain. They passed information to handlers linked to Hong Kong authorities, ultimately aiding Chinese intelligence services.
Wai was additionally convicted of misconduct in public office for misusing his official access.
Both men denied the charges during trial. The Chinese embassy in London denounced the case as a "political manipulation" and abuse of law.
Judge's Sentencing Remarks
Mrs Justice Bobbie Cheema-Grubb told the court that the UK faces persistent, often secret interference from foreign state actors and their agents. She emphasized that modern foreign intelligence operations extend beyond traditional military or government secrets to include surveillance, data collection, intimidation, and targeting of dissidents and those seeking protection under British law.
"The activities of Wai and Yuen were truly chilling," said Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing in London. She noted the men targeted individuals simply exercising their rights to protest against the Hong Kong and Chinese governments.
The Third Suspect and His Mysterious Death
The case originally involved three defendants. The third, 37-year-old British national Matthew Trickett, a former Royal Marines member turned private investigator and security consultant, was accused of assisting Yuen and Wai in surveillance operations.
After the three were arrested and released on bail in May 2024, Trickett was found dead on May 19, 2024, in Magna Carta Park in western London. Police ruled his death as non-suspicious, leading to the termination of proceedings against him. His death sparked public concern in Britain over the safety of witnesses and defendants in such cases.
