Beijing has slammed the United Kingdom’s conviction of two former high-ranking Hong Kong police figures as a “political farce,” accusing London of abusing the legal system to target the Chinese state. On Friday, the Chinese Embassy in London issued a sharp rebuke following the verdict at the Old Bailey, which found the men guilty of conducting “shadow policing” operations on British soil.
The defendants, 65-year-old Chung Biu (Bill) Yuen and 38-year-old Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, were convicted of assisting a foreign intelligence service under the UK’s National Security Act. Yuen, a retired Hong Kong police superintendent, worked for the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London.
Wai, a former City of London special constable, also worked for the UK Border Force. The court heard evidence that the duo monitored Hong Kong dissidents and pro-democracy activists living in Britain, referring to them in private messages as “cockroaches.”
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In its official statement, the Chinese Embassy described the proceedings as a “political move” intended to “embolden anti-China elements” and “smear” the reputation of the Hong Kong government. Beijing has since lodged a formal “solemn representation” with British authorities, demanding that London stop interfering in Hong Kong’s internal affairs.
The British government responded by summoning the Chinese ambassador, citing a “violation of sovereignty.” While both men were found guilty of surveillance and data gathering, the jury failed to reach a verdict on a separate charge of foreign interference related to a forced entry into a private residence in May 2024. Sentencing for both men is scheduled for May 15.
