Three men have been charged with conducting surveillance for the Hong Kong intelligence service in Britain and have appeared before magistrates in London. Matthew Trickett, 37, Chi Leung Wai, 38, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, spoke only to confirm their identities during a brief appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning.
The charges, under the new National Security Act, follow an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s counterterrorism command, which saw 11 people arrested earlier this month. It is alleged that Mr. Trickett, Mr. Wai, and Mr. Yuen, between Dec. 20, 2023, and May 2, 2024, “agreed to undertake information gathering, surveillance, and acts of deception that were likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service.” They are also accused of forcing entry into a UK residential address on May 1.
The Metropolitan Police said eight men and a woman were arrested by counterterrorism officers on May 1 in Yorkshire. The following day, a ninth man was arrested in Yorkshire, and another male was detained in London. All 11 individuals were interviewed at two police stations, one in central London and the other in the West Midlands.
The woman was released, and seven of the men were freed without charge on Friday. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the counterterrorism command, emphasized that the operation was not connected to a recent investigation linked to Russia, where five people were arrested and charged.
Mr. Murphy stated, “The foreign intelligence service to which the above charges relate is that of Hong Kong.” He added, “While led from London, the counterterrorism policing network has been crucial to disrupting this activity, and we have worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service since the start of the investigation.”
Police Say No ‘Wider Threat’ to the Public
Commander Murphy reassured the public that there is no wider threat to them. He urged people not to speculate or comment further on the case. Mr. Wai, also known as Peter Wai, appeared in court along with Mr. Trickett and Mr. Yuen.
Mr. Wai, who lives in Staines-upon-Thames, near London, was given conditional bail, as were Mr. Trickett and Mr. Yuen. The conditions of bail include a curfew, a ban on international travel, weekly reporting to local police stations, and informing the police of any electronic devices that can access the internet. The case was adjourned until May 24 for an administrative hearing at the Old Bailey.
They have not entered pleas to the charges, and their trial is expected to take place in the spring of 2025.
PA Media contributed to this report.
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