Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee emphasized the need for transparent information from British authorities regarding the recent arrests of three individuals, including a manager at a Hong Kong government office in the UK, accused of assisting Hong Kong’s foreign intelligence service.
Lee acknowledged his acquaintance with one of the suspects, Bill Yuen, from their university days, refuting claims made by the Chinese embassy in London that the case was fabricated and unjustly targeted the Hong Kong government.
The charges, brought forth in a British court, allege that the three men engaged in activities aiding a foreign intelligence service between December 2023 and May 2024. These activities reportedly included information gathering, surveillance, and acts of deception.
They are accused of conducting foreign interference by forcefully entering a residential property, all offenses falling under the UK’s National Security Act.
Bill Yuen, identified as the office manager of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London, was one of the defendants.
Another individual, Peter Wai, a dual British and Chinese national, served as a UK Border Force officer and operated a private security firm. The third defendant, Matthew Trickett, a former Royal Marine commando, also ran a private security firm.
While the defendants face a maximum sentence of 14 years for each charge, they were granted bail with curfew and travel restrictions. Lee defended the HKETOs’ operations, highlighting their contribution to trade and economic benefits globally
. The arrests have raised concerns over potential impacts on China-UK relations and underscored ongoing tensions over foreign interference in Hong Kong’s affairs.
