A UK immigration officer has been found guilty of working for Chinese intelligence. Chi Leung Wai, 38, used his extensive access to the UK’s immigration database. He tracked down Hong Kong dissidents living in Britain. The court found him guilty under the National Security Act. He assisted a foreign intelligence service.
Wai worked alongside Chung Biu Yuen, 65. Yuen was Wai’s contact with Chinese authorities. Yuen formerly worked for the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London. Wai also faced a charge for misconduct in public office. He was found guilty of this separately. The jury could not reach a decision on a charge of foreign interference. This related to an alleged attempt to force entry into a suspect's home. Prosecutors will not pursue a retrial for that charge.
This case raises serious questions about internal security. Wai began working as a Border Force officer at Heathrow Airport in December 2020. This role gave him access to crucial information on foreign nationals in the UK. He reportedly used this access on days he was off or sick. He was paid to track Hong Kongers fleeing political crackdowns. Many used the UK as a safe haven after events in Hong Kong. Evidence showed Wai referred to dissidents as "cockroaches" in messages.
Yuen, a former Hong Kong police officer, managed HKETO’s London office. He and Wai met in 2017. By mid-2021, Wai was providing Yuen with intelligence. This covered the activities of Hong Kong dissidents and protesters in the UK. Wai also involved another Border Force officer, Matthew Trickett. Trickett, a former Royal Marine, was found dead soon after the pair's arrest. His death was treated as a suspected suicide. Wai held both British and Hong Kong passports. He had a varied career, including a stint as a Metropolitan Police officer.
The HKETO’s role has become more political. It was established to foster trade ties. However, protests in Hong Kong in 2019 increased its politicisation. Wai and Yuen were introduced by Chu Ting Tang. Tang is seen as sympathetic to the Chinese government’s policies. Wai’s initial contact with Chinese intelligence may have been Eddie Ma. Ma is a former officer in Hong Kong Police’s Criminal Intelligence Bureau. Wai sent Ma information on new arrivals from Hong Kong. Ma noted that "the head office seems to be interested at these informations."
The court heard about further surveillance efforts. Wai and Trickett monitored Hong Kong activist Nathan Law. Law has a bounty of HK$1 million (around £100,000) on his head. This bounty was placed by Hong Kong’s chief executive, John Lee Ka-chiu. Another target was Finn Lau, also a democracy protester. Lau also faces a HK$1 million bounty. He was previously beaten in London. "To be frank, I don't feel safe in the UK regarding the spying risk," Lau told the BBC. "That's why we have been taking different sorts of measures to try to protect ourselves."
In a separate incident in April 2023, Wai used his City of London police identity card. He threatened a protester during a visit by Hong Kong’s financial secretary. Wai had no official policing role that day. By 2024, the UK’s security service, MI5, was aware of Wai’s group. The group was trying to locate Monica Kwong. She is accused of stealing money, which she denies. Wai used his Atlas database access to find her flat in Pontefract. He confirmed her presence by arranging a fake parcel delivery. He began surveillance on her flat. This investigation highlights the complex international efforts to monitor individuals abroad.