Beijing slams UK after manager of Hong Kong trade office in London, 2 others hit with spying charges
- Bill Yuen, 63, Peter Wai, 38, and Matthew Trickett, 37, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday
- Yuen is office manager of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London
Three men – including a Hong Kong public officer – have been charged in Britain with conducting spying activities by allegedly carrying out surveillance against dissidents from the city, prompting strong condemnation from Beijing which called the case “pure fabrication”.
In a strongly worded statement, the Chinese embassy in London said on Monday that Beijing had lodged stern representations with Britain over the case, urging it to immediately stop all kinds of “anti-China political manipulation” and ensure the legitimate rights and interests of the country’s citizens in the UK.
“China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the British pure fabrication of so-called cases and unreasonable accusations against the Hong Kong SAR government,” it said.
“The UK arbitrarily harasses, arrests and detains Chinese citizens in the UK under the pretext of justice and national security. This is a serious provocation to China and a serious violation of the basic norms of international relations.”
The three suspects, including Bill Yuen Chung-biu, 63, who serves as an office manager of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London, were granted bail about 30 minutes after they appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
