Duncan Atkinson KC and Ros Earis have secured the convictions of two British-Hong-Kong dual nationals for assisting a foreign intelligence service and misconduct in public office.
The convictions represent the first of their kind in British history concerning Chinese-led intelligence activities and came following a nine week trial at the Central Criminal Court.
The court heard that Peter Wai – an immigration officer with Border Force – had used his access to a sensitive Home Office immigration database to procure intelligence for Bill Yuen, an official employed by the Hong Kong government at its Trade Office in London, whom the Crown alleged was running “shadow policing operations” on UK soil. Their activities were part of wider attempts by the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to target pro-democracy campaigners based in the UK to suppress political dissent, and to secure the repatriation of individuals of interest to the Chinese authorities.
Sentencing will take place in due course.
More information can be found here:
Two men convicted of National Security Act offences | Metropolitan Police
