Chung Biu Yuen, 63, and Chi Leung Peter Wai, 38, are set to stand trial for allegedly aiding Hong Kong authorities in gathering intelligence in the U.K. A third suspect, Briton Matthew Trickett, was found dead under unexplained circumstances in a park after being charged in the case. Chinese officials have criticized the charges, calling them political manipulation and harmful to China-U.K. relations. Yuen was confirmed to be the office manager of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London.
The two men appeared at London’s Central Criminal Court for a preliminary hearing and were charged with agreeing to undertake information gathering, surveillance, and acts of deception that would materially assist a foreign intelligence service. The judge set a trial date for February 10, lasting around five weeks. The men were granted bail under certain restrictions. The charges were brought under Britain’s National Security Act following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command. Prosecutors allege that the suspects illegally forced entry into a U.K. residential address.
Matthew Trickett, the third suspect in the case, was found dead in a park under unexplained circumstances after being charged. He was an immigration enforcement officer in the U.K. and a former Royal Marine, as well as the director of a security company. Trickett reportedly attempted suicide after being charged. The case drew strong criticism from Chinese and Hong Kong officials, with Beijing calling it an act of political manipulation in the name of national security. They believe the charges have harmed China-U.K. relations and violated international laws and norms.
The arrests of the three men were made earlier in London and Yorkshire by counterterrorism police under provisions of a new law that allows suspects in national security and espionage cases to be detained without warrant. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman criticized the charges, while Hong Kong government officials expressed concerns to Britain about the case. The city’s Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Algernon Yau, met with Britain’s deputy consul-general in Hong Kong to urge fair handling of the matter and ensure the normal operation of the Hong Kong trade office in London.
Overall, the case has raised tensions between China and the U.K., with Chinese officials accusing the U.K. of political manipulation and harming China-U.K. relations. The three suspects face charges under the National Security Act for aiding a foreign intelligence service. The trial date has been set with restrictions placed on the men. The unexplained death of one of the suspects has added further complexity to the case. The involvement of counterterrorism police and the use of new laws in detaining the suspects without a warrant have also been points of contention.
