politics
Two Men Jailed for Targeting Hong Kong Dissidents in Britain
A court sentenced two dual Chinese-British nationals to prison terms after they were convicted of assisting a foreign intelligence service. The case marks the first prosecution under the 2023 National Security Act for such activity.
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A London court sentenced two men to prison after convicting them of assisting a foreign intelligence service by targeting Hong Kong dissidents living in Britain. The men, aged 41 and 66, were found guilty under the 2023 National Security Act at the Old Bailey. One defendant also received a conviction for misconduct in public office after accessing a Home Office database.
Background of the defendants One man had worked as a Metropolitan Police officer until 2019 and later joined UK Border Force at Heathrow Airport. The second man had served as a Hong Kong police superintendent and worked at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London.
Actions and targets The pair gathered information on Hong Kong dissidents, including vehicle details, home addresses, and social media profiles. They also attempted to detain a fraud suspect in West Yorkshire in May 2024, which led to their arrest. A third man charged in the same operation died by suicide a week after his arrest.
Court statements The judge described the offenses as deliberate and serious, stating the actions caused real and significant harm to the targets. Prosecutors said the case demonstrates that foreign interference will not be tolerated on British soil.
