Special Constable Accused of Spying for China Threatened Protester with Arrest, Court Hears
A City of London Police special constable, accused of spying for China, allegedly threatened to arrest a protester who confronted a Hong Kong official, according to testimony at the Old Bailey. Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, is on trial alongside retired Hong Kong police superintendent Chung Biu (Bill) Yuen, 65, with both denying charges of breaching the National Security Act by assisting the Hong Kong intelligence service.
Alleged Surveillance and Intimidation Tactics
The court heard that Wai, who also worked for UK Border Force, is accused of conducting surveillance and photographing Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, referred to derogatorily as "cockroaches." Yuen is alleged to have tasked Wai and former Royal Marine Matthew Trickett with carrying out "shadow policing operations" while employed by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the UK. Prosecutors claim that Hong Kong authorities, acting on behalf of China, instructed them to gather intelligence on exiles targeted with £100,000 bounties for their alleged links to pro-democracy protests, including activist Nathan Law.
Protester's Account of Confrontation
Giving evidence, a student known only as Y, who participated in pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong before moving to the UK in late 2020, described an incident on 17 April 2023. He went to Guildhall in the City of London to confront Hong Kong official Christopher Hui, shouting "shame on you" as Hui left the building. Y testified that Wai approached him, produced a City of London Police badge from his wallet, and warned, "I had to leave the area otherwise he would arrest me for public disorder." Y complied, fearing trouble, and later saw Wai in a car with Hui a few blocks away. The jury was informed that Wai had no official policing role at Guildhall that day.
Further Protests and Denials
Y also recounted seeing Wai at a Chinese New Year event in Whitehall, attended by political figures connected to Hong Kong and China. When questioned by defense counsel Jonathan Caplan KC, Y could not recall if he was present at a protest where the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office building was vandalized with red paint and fireworks. Video evidence shown to jurors captured protesters at Guildhall shouting Yuen's name through a megaphone, with chants of "The police is corrupt, your family die with them," and others throwing "ghost money" at Hui's car.
Defense Arguments and Additional Charges
Aftab Jafferjee KC, representing Wai, suggested that Y had shouted "your whole family die" at Hui before Wai intervened, stating, "Stop what you're doing. You could be arrested." He claimed Wai only showed his warrant card after Y asserted, "It's a public place, I can do what I want, you're nobody, this is my freedom." Y denied remembering making those statements. Wai and Yuen, both dual Chinese and British nationals, deny assisting a foreign intelligence service between 20 December 2023 and 2 May 2024, including allegations of information gathering, surveillance, and deception. They also deny a charge of foreign interference related to forcing entry into the flat of Monica Kwong in Pontefract on 1 May 2024.
Misconduct and Trial Details
Wai faces an additional charge of misconduct in a public office for allegedly conducting unjustified searches of Home Office databases while working as a UK Border Force officer between 16 September 2022 and 2 May 2024. The jury was told that Matthew Trickett, an immigration enforcement officer and former UK Border Force employee, is not standing trial due to his death in May 2024. The trial continues as the court examines these serious allegations under the National Security Act.
