A UK court has sentenced Chi Leung Wai and Chung Biu Yuen to eight and ten years in prison, respectively, for engaging in clandestine operations targeting Hong Kong pro-democracy activists residing in the United Kingdom. The sentencing, delivered by Justice Cheema-Grubb, emphasized the significant breach of trust committed by the defendants, highlighting their use of the UK’s confidential databases to gather intelligence on dissidents. The activities were characterized as “shadow policing operations,” aimed at facilitating the return of activists to China or Hong Kong without due process. Such actions were deemed harmful to the UK’s safety and autonomy, corroding public trust in the integrity of the country’s immigration system.
The prosecution detailed that Chung Biu Yuen, an office manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, delegated the surveillance tasks to Chi Leung Wai. Wai, leveraging his position as a UK Border Force officer, accessed sensitive data of Hong Kong dissidents. Beyond spying, he was found guilty of misfeasance in public office, exacerbating the breach by exploiting his access to Home Office computer systems. Still, the jury stopped short of convicting the pair on charges of foreign interference. The convictions were based on the National Security Act 2023 (NSA), highlighting its role in combating such activities according to JURIST.
In response to the sentences, Helen Flanagan of Counter Terrorism Policing London underscored the gravity of the crimes and expressed hope that the outcome would reassure UK residents that they are protected from external threats. Meanwhile, the governments of China and Hong Kong dismissed the convictions, describing them as politically motivated and a means of supporting anti-China forces. A spokesperson from China’s foreign ministry reiterated that the legal proceedings amounted to an abuse of law.
The UK-based rights organization, Hong Kong Watch, and Lord Alton of Liverpool, chairperson of the UK’s Joint Committee on Human Rights, have pointed to this case as indicative of a broader trend of transnational repression. This assertion gains further weight from a 2025 parliamentary report acknowledging the presence of such activities in the UK, although crafting effective policy responses has been hampered by a lack of formal definition as noted by The Guardian.
The case has ignited discussions about the efficacy and scope of the National Security Act. Johnathan Hall KC, in the first independent review of the NSA, cautioned about the potential for innocent communications to be entangled within its broad provisions. This highlights the need for increased vigilance and clarity in its application as the complexities of international relations evolve. As the UK navigates these challenges, the balance between security measures and civil liberties remains a pivotal concern.