London

Three men have been charged under the UK National Security Act for allegedly assisting the intelligence service based out of Hong Kong. The incident of foreign interference in the British state of affairs emerged after the arrests first happened. 

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London's Metropolitan Police identified the three men as Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, of Staines-upon-Thames, Matthew Trickett, 37, of Maidenhead, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, of Hackney, east London.

Arrested men may face up to 14 years in prison

All three have each been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 3(1) and (9) of the National Security Act 2023.

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These sections specify the intent to conduct an act "to materially assist a foreign intelligence service in carrying out UK-related activities". A person who commits an offence under the section (9) of National Security Act "is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years or a fine (or both".

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The arrested individuals have also each been charged with foreign interference, contrary to section 13(2) and (7) of the Act. 

The UK Met said the foreign intelligence service "is that of Hong Kong".

Hong Kong spying row in UK: How the arrests took place

The arrests follow an investigation led by officers from the Met's counter-terrorism command along with assistance from the north-east and south-east counter-terrorism policing units.

Eight men and a woman were arrested by officers on May 1 in the Yorkshire area. A man was later arrested in London and another man was arrested in the Yorkshire area the following day, the force said.

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All three men will appear in custody at Westminster magistrates court on Monday (May 13).

Commander Dominic Murphy, the head of the Met’s counter-terrorism command, said: "While these offences are concerning, I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there to be any wider threat to them. This investigation remains ongoing, but now that charges have been brought, I urge people not to speculate or comment further in relation to this case."

(With inputs from agencies)