A UK court sentences two men convicted of spying for China after they carried out “shadow policing” and other activities targeting Hong Kong dissidents in the UK. The cases are described as the first such convictions in British criminal history under the UK National Security Act.
Peter Wai, a Border Force officer based in London, receives a 10-year prison term. Prosecutors say he used his role and access to conduct operations aimed at individuals linked to Hong Kong dissident activity while in the UK. His handler, Bill Yuen, a Hong Kong trade official based in London and a former police officer, is sentenced to eight years. Sources characterise the pair as running a spy operation in the UK, with reporting indicating they also monitored or targeted senior UK politicians who supported the dissidents.
Reporting from multiple outlets describes the sentences being imposed at the Old Bailey in a hearing held in the UK, following convictions of spying for China. The court’s outcomes cover both the individuals’ terms of imprisonment and the nature of the conduct found by the court.
