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A court has heard allegations that two men, a retired Hong Kong police officer and a former Border Force official—both holding British passports—engaged in covert “shadow policing” activities within the UK on behalf of China. The individuals, Chung Biu “Bill” Yuen, aged 65, and Chi Leung “Peter” Wai, 38, stand accused of conducting surveillance on pro-democracy activists from Hong Kong who sought asylum in Britain. Both face charges under the National Security Act.
Yuen, who previously served with the Hong Kong police and worked at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London, is the third most senior figure at the office. Wai had roles with the UK Border Force and as a Special Constable volunteering for the City of London Police. His background also includes employment with the Metropolitan Police, running a security company called D5 Security, and consulting for a private security firm focusing on the Chinese community in London’s Soho.
The prosecution has linked Yuen and Wai to Matthew Trickett, a former British Royal Marine and Border Force officer, who died in May 2024 after being released on bail. During the trial, Duncan Atkinson KC, opening for the prosecution, detailed how Wai misused police and Home Office computer systems to search for personal information related to asylum seekers from Hong Kong. Wai allegedly earned around £2,000 monthly for providing intelligence to his contacts. Atkinson explained that their activities involved gathering intelligence and conducting surveillance akin to law enforcement operations, despite lacking any legitimate authority within the UK.
Evidence presented outlined that their actions aligned with efforts by Hong Kong authorities to extend their reach beyond their jurisdiction, targeting individuals labeled as opponents of the regime. Some activists reportedly had bounties offered on their heads totaling approximately £100,000 for information leading to their capture or identification. The prosecution described an incident where Yuen and Wai attempted to force entry into the home of Monica Kwong, one of the targeted individuals, acting as if operating a lawful police action. The UK police intervened in that situation.
Additional testimony revealed Wai’s involvement in unauthorized checks of police databases dating back to 2018. Atkinson recounted an episode in April 2023 where Wai approached a pro-democracy protestor in London, showed his police identification and threatened arrest, despite being off duty. Wai also shared information about activists within a WhatsApp group, receiving praise interpreted as support on behalf of China. Connections between Wai and a former Hong Kong police chief were cited, including payments and derogatory references to dissidents.
The prosecution alleged that Trickett participated in tracking activists such as Nathan Law, Finn Lau, and Christopher Mung, all named in bounty offers. Surveillance operations reportedly included monitoring Law during a public event in late 2023. Both Yuen and Wai deny the charges of aiding a foreign intelligence service and interference. Wai contests an additional misconduct charge linked to unlawful database searches. The trial is set to proceed over the next six to seven weeks
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