Yui Mok/AP
Chung Biu Yuen leaves Westminster Magistrates’ Court docket in central London on Might 13, 2024.
Hong Kong
The Gentleman Report
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Hong Kong’s chief answered on Tuesday after 3 folks had been charged by way of British police for allegedly spying on behalf of town’s intelligence services and products.
On Monday, 3 males gave the impression in Westminster Magistrates’ court docket in London charged with nationwide safety offenses, together with helping the Hong Kong intelligence provider, in step with a commentary from town’s Metropolitan Police.
Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, Matthew Trickett, 37, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, also are accused of international interference, the commentary mentioned, with out specifying who the boys had been allegedly spying on.
Family members between Hong Kong and its former colonial ruler Britain have soured in recent times following mass pro-democracy protests within the Chinese language town in 2019 and 2020.
The British executive has criticized Hong Kong’s Beijing-backed crackdown on virtually all opposition within the years following the protests, whilst Hong Kong government have bristled at Britain offering a protected haven for pro-democracy leaders sought by way of the Hong Kong police.
On Tuesday, Hong Kong Leader Govt John Lee claimed the British fees in opposition to thre 3 males had been a “fabrication.”
“The Chinese language aspect firmly rejects and strongly condemns the United Kingdom’s fabrication within the so-called case and its unwarranted accusation in opposition to the Hong Kong executive,” Lee mentioned, referring at once to a commentary from the Chinese language Embassy in London that used to be additionally issued based on the fees.
Yui Mok/AP
Chi Leung Wai leaves Westminster Magistrates’ Court docket in London, on Might 13, 2024.
Jonathan Brady/AP
Matthew Trickett leaving Westminster Magistrates’ Court docket, central London, on Might 13, 2024.
On Monday, the Chinese language Embassy commentary, strongly condemned what it known as the UK’s “unwarranted accusation in opposition to the Hong Kong Particular Administrative Area executive.”
The costs in opposition to the 3 males allege that between December 20, 2023 and Might 2, 2024, Yuen, Wai and Trickett agreed to adopt knowledge accumulating, surveillance and acts of deception that had been prone to materially lend a hand a international intelligence provider, in step with PA media.
Police additionally alleged that on Might 1, the 3 pressured access right into a UK residential deal with, in step with PA.
All 3 had been granted bail however are barred from touring the world over, with District Pass judgement on Louisa Cieciora announcing they will have to abide by way of a midnight curfew and file weekly to their native police station.
Hong Kong chief Lee famous in his Tuesday information convention that one of the crucial males charged used to be the place of work supervisor of the Hong Kong Financial and Business Workplace in London however did indirectly deal with a query over whether or not it used to be occupied with surveillance of Hong Kong dissidents in the United Kingdom.
Vernon Yuen/NurPhoto/Getty Photographs
Hong Kong Leader Govt John Lee is talking at a press convention on April 30, 2024.
Lee, town’s former safety leader, mentioned Hong Kong’s Financial and Business Workplace exists to facilitate cultural and financial interactions with folks and companies in the United Kingdom and that “Any try to make unwarranted accusations in opposition to the Hong Kong executive is unacceptable.”
The Metropolitan Police mentioned they’d charged the boys with helping the international intelligence provider underneath the United Kingdom Nationwide Safety Act.
“Numerous arrests had been made and searches performed throughout England as a part of this investigation. Whilst led from London, the Counter Terrorism Policing community has been an important to disrupting this task and now we have labored carefully with the Crown Prosecution Provider for the reason that get started of the investigation,” Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command mentioned within the unencumber.
Met Police mentioned the investigation is ongoing however added there’s no danger to the broader group.
