UK court convicts 2 men linked to Hong Kong trade office of spying

Two men tied to Hong Kong’s London trade office convicted of spying on pro-democracy activists in UK court. | Contesto: cronaca

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• UK court convicts 2 men linked to Hong Kong trade office of spying

Contesto

A British court on Thursday convicted two men linked to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London of spying on activists from the city on behalf of Chinese authorities, marking a landmark case that has cast a harsh light on the operations of Hong Kong’s overseas promotion offices. Bill Yuen Chung-biu, the London office’s manager and a retired Hong Kong police superintendent, and Peter Wai Chi-leung were found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service, two years after their arrests first thrust the role of these offices into the global spotlight. The verdict, delivered at the Old Bailey in London, ends a trial that has drawn intense scrutiny to the HKETO’s activities abroad. Prosecutors argued that Yuen and Wai operated as part of a coordinated effort to monitor and intimidate Hong Kong activists living in the United Kingdom, gathering intelligence on their movements, contacts, and public activities. The case has raised serious questions about the extent to which Chinese authorities use semi-official trade and economic offices as fronts for surveillance and political repression outside their borders. The convictions come amid a broader crackdown by Beijing on dissent following the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. The HKETO, established to promote trade and cultural ties, has faced growing allegations that its staff have engaged in covert operations targeting exiled activists. Yuen, who held a senior role at the office, was accused of orchestrating surveillance from within the diplomatic-like mission, while Wai, a private investigator, was said to have carried out ground-level monitoring. Neither man had commented publicly on the charges before the verdict. The case has significant implications for Hong Kong’s international standing and the future of its overseas offices. The British government has already signaled increased scrutiny of HKETO operations, and legal experts suggest the convictions could lead to tighter regulations on foreign missions in the UK. For Hong Kong activists in exile, the verdict offers a measure of vindication, but it also underscores the risks they face even in countries seen as safe havens. Many have...

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Categoria: cronaca