UK government summons Chinese ambassador over spying case linked to Hong Kong trade office manager, 2 others

It is alleged they assisted a foreign intelligence service and were involved in foreign interference by carrying out surveillance of Hong Kong activists now living in the UK.

Peter Wai Chi-leung, 38, a dual British and Chinese national and a UK Border Force officer, and Matthew Trickett, 37, an ex-Royal Marine Commando who now owns a private security firm, were charged with two offences under the National Security Act.

The FCDO statement said the trio were charged as part of an investigation led by officers from the Metropolitan Police’s counter terrorism command, and that the foreign intelligence service said to be involved was Hong Kong’s.

The Chinese embassy in London said it had lodged a protest with Britain over the incident.

Beijing’s foreign affairs ministry on Tuesday added it had “serious concerns” about the prosecution and appealed to the British government to safeguard the legitimate interests of Chinese citizens in the UK.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the Hong Kong government had demanded details of the case from the city’s British consulate.

Lee insisted that the role of the city’s trade offices was to engage people overseas and improve their knowledge of Hong Kong.