UK Border Official and Ex-Hong Kong Cop Sentenced for Spying

On June 18, 2026, a London court sentenced Peter Wai, a former UK Border Force officer, and Bill Yuen, a retired Hong Kong police superintendent, to 10 and 8 years in prison, respectively, for espionage on behalf of China. The duo was convicted under the National Security Act for assisting a foreign intelligence service. Wai misused government databases to gather information on Hong Kong dissidents and British politicians critical of China. Posing as authorities, they conducted surveillance on pro-democracy activists, including former Hong Kong lawmaker Nathan Law. The judge described their actions as 'deliberate, concerted, and serious,' causing fear among those targeted. British security officials condemned the acts as 'truly chilling.' Beijing’s embassy and the Hong Kong government dismissed the charges as politically motivated and denied any official involvement. The Chinese ambassador was summoned after the verdicts, highlighting ongoing diplomatic tensions between the UK and China over the treatment of Hong Kong activists.