A former Hong Kong police officer and a UK Border Force employee were convicted on Thursday of spying for China by conducting 'underground police' campaigns in the UK, prosecutors said.
The trial in London concluded that the two defendants engaged in illegal surveillance and intelligence-gathering to serve the interests of Chinese intelligence agencies. Prosecutors described the actions as 'underground police' operations, referring to the use of police skills to surveil and intimidate targets overseas.
The UK Border Force employee was convicted of providing sensitive information to the former Hong Kong police officer, who then transmitted it to Chinese authorities. Both were arrested in 2023 and faced national security-related charges.
The verdict comes as the UK tightens counter-espionage measures, particularly against nations considered adversaries. The case has drawn significant media and political attention, reflecting growing concerns about foreign intelligence activities in the UK.
