Two men convicted in UK over spying operation targeting Hong Kong dissidents

Thursday 07 May 2026 - 16:30

Two men have been found guilty by a London court of carrying out espionage activities targeting Hong Kong pro-democracy activists living in the United Kingdom, in a case highlighting growing concerns over foreign intelligence operations on British soil.

The defendants, Chung Biu Yuen and Chi Leung Wai, were convicted at London’s Old Bailey court of assisting a foreign intelligence service between late 2023 and mid-2024. Both men hold dual Chinese and British nationality.

According to prosecutors, the pair were involved in surveillance operations directed at dissidents who had relocated to the UK, including well-known pro-democracy activists. Authorities described the activities as part of coordinated “shadow policing operations” allegedly linked to Hong Kong and ultimately Chinese authorities.

The case forms part of a wider backdrop of diplomatic tension between London and Beijing over allegations of espionage and foreign interference. British authorities have repeatedly expressed concern about intelligence-related activities targeting political opponents abroad, particularly individuals linked to Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.

During the trial, prosecutors alleged that the defendants were tasked with monitoring and gathering information on activists living in the UK, some of whom have been subject to international arrest warrants and financial rewards issued by Hong Kong authorities.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on an additional charge related to alleged forced entry into a property in northern England, reportedly connected to an investigation involving individuals accused of fraud in Hong Kong.

The case underscores ongoing friction in UK–China relations, which have seen attempts at diplomatic engagement alongside persistent disagreements over security, human rights, and intelligence activities.