A British court has sentenced two dual Chinese-British nationals to prison for their roles in a sophisticated operation to conduct “shadow policing” and intelligence gathering against Hong Kong dissidents residing in the United Kingdom. Peter Wai, 41, received a 10-year prison sentence, while Bill Yuen, 66, was handed an eight-year term following their convictions for assisting a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act 2023.
The sentencing, which took place at London’s Old Bailey, marks the first time individuals have been convicted under the UK’s updated national security legislation for activities involving the surveillance of pro-democracy activists. Prosecutors established that the pair carried out information gathering and acts of deception on behalf of Hong Kong authorities, who have sought to suppress dissent since the implementation of the National Security Law in 2020.
Peter Wai, 41, and Bill Yuen, 66, have been jailed for assisting China’s foreign intelligence service in the UK under the 2023 National Security Act – in the first case of its kind.📺 Watch the judge’s sentencing remarks ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/jFnvUKvH1u— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 18, 2026
Judicial Findings and Sentencing Rationale
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb described the defendants’ actions as “deliberate, concerted, and serious.” According to the court proceedings, the defendants’ activities resulted in “real and significant” harm, leaving the targeted individuals in a state of persistent fear and distress. The judge emphasized that the operation was not a minor infraction but a calculated attempt to monitor and intimidate people living under the protection of British law.
Wai, who previously served in the British police and the Royal Navy before working for the UK’s Border Force, was also convicted of misconduct in a public office. Prosecutors presented evidence showing that Wai abused his position within the immigration and customs agency to access the Home Office’s computer system. He reportedly searched for personal information on individuals of interest to Hong Kong authorities, providing that intelligence to Yuen, who served as a senior manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London.
The Scope of Surveillance Activities
The court heard that the pair’s operations extended beyond simple monitoring. Their targets included Hong Kong dissidents and pro-democracy protesters who had relocated to the UK. The investigation revealed that “special attention” was also directed toward high-profile figures, including former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith. One specific operation involved the capture of photographs of prominent activist Nathan Law, according to evidence presented by the prosecution.
These surveillance efforts occurred concurrently with the Hong Kong government’s issuance of bounties, which offered approximately £100,000 for information leading to the identification and apprehension of UK-based activists, including Law. The intersection of these private “shadow policing” efforts and official state-sanctioned bounties formed a central component of the prosecution’s case regarding the severity of the threat posed to individuals on British soil.
Official Responses and Diplomatic Tensions
The Hong Kong government issued a formal statement on Thursday rejecting the court’s findings, characterizing the proceedings as “unfounded allegations and smearing.” Officials in Hong Kong stated that the accusations were “absolutely unrelated to the HKSAR Government, London ETO and its duties,” and further argued that the UK had “abused law and manipulated judicial procedures to secure conviction.”
Conversely, the UK government reaffirmed its commitment to domestic security. Security Minister Angela Eagle stated that the sentences sent a definitive message that the UK would not “tolerate anyone breaking our laws and compromising our security to assist a foreign state.” Eagle added that the government intends to “continue to hold China to account” regarding the use of arrest warrants and financial bounties, which she noted “encourage illegal behaviour on UK soil.”
The convictions underscore the strained diplomatic relationship between London and Beijing, which has been under pressure since the introduction of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. While the current UK government has expressed a desire to reset relations, the case highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing diplomatic engagement with the protection of individuals against foreign influence operations within the United Kingdom.
As the legal process concludes with these sentences, there are no further scheduled court dates for these specific defendants. Those seeking information regarding official UK government guidance on foreign interference or how to report concerns about transnational repression can find resources through the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.