In response to growing concern that unfriendly countries are attempting to stifle democracy and economic engagement in the United Kingdom, American authorities have charged three men with aiding the Hong Kong intelligence services.
The three men were one of 11 persons who were detained by terrorism authorities in Yorkshire and London earlier this month under a fresh law that allows defendants in espionage and national security situations to be detained without a permit. The different eight suspects, who were not charged, were released.
Chi Leung ( Peter ) Wai, 38, Matthew Trickett, 37, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, are also charged with foreign interference, the Metropolitan Police Service said. They will appear at Westminster Magistrates ´ Court on Monday.
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” A number of arrests were made and searches carried out across England as part of this analysis”, Commander Dominic Murphy, mind of the Met’s terrorism order, said in a statement. The Counter Terrorism Policing channel has played a key role in halting this action, despite being led from London.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to give a speech on Monday in which he is expected to claim that the country is facing an increasingly dangerous coming as a result of dangers from an” shaft of autocratic state” including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. After a political scientist was detained last year on suspicion of spying for Beijing, accusations that Chinese authorities called a “malicious stain” were roiling China.
Hong Kong ´s security bureau, Hong Kong police and the office of China ´s foreign ministry in Hong Kong did n’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
A fresh national security act, which gave police more authority to combat foreign spy, was passed by the American government last year. The policy was needed to combat the “ever- evolving” risk of international intervention and in “response to the menace of angry activity from states targeting the U. K. ´s democracy, economy, and values”, the government said.
On May 1 and 2, the latest case’s arrests took place. The investigation is continuing, authorities said.
