London (Parliament News) – Three men faced court charges under the National Security Act for allegedly aiding Hong Kong’s intelligence service, involving illegal information gathering and entering a UK residential address. They were granted bail.
Three men appeared in court in London on Monday apprehended under the National Security Act for allegedly aiding the Hong Kong intelligence service and employing foreign interference.
What Charges Do Three Men Face under the National Security Act?
Matthew Trickett, 37, Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, have been levied with engaging in illegal information gathering, surveillance and actions of deception between 20 December 2023 and 2 May 2024, defiant to section 3 (1) and (9) of the National Security Act 2023.
It is also alleged that on 1 May 2024, they pushed entry into a UK residential address, being reckless as to whether the restricted conduct or course of conduct of which it constitutes a part, would have an interference consequence, contrary to section 13 (2) and (7) of the act.
The three spoke only to verify their names, ages and addresses at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday. Trickett gave his speech as being in Maidenhead, Berkshire; Wai, in Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey; and Yuen, Hackney in east London.
The Metropolitan police expressed that the foreign intelligence service involved “is that of Hong Kong”. It follows an inquiry led by officers from the Met’s counter-terrorism command with backing from colleagues from the north-east and south-east counter-terrorism policing units.
Are Three Men Granted Bail After Court Hearing?
After a short hearing on Monday lunchtime, the three men were granted bail by the district judge, Louisa Cieciora. They are directed to report weekly to a local police station, are subject to a 10 pm to 5 am curfew, are prohibited from travelling abroad, and must notify the police within 24 hours if they obtain an internet-enabled device. They are next due to occur at the Old Bailey on 24 May.
The three were originally imprisoned as part of a larger operation, during which 11 people were apprehended at the beginning of the month. Eight men and a woman were apprehended by officers on 1 May in the Yorkshire area, before one man was captured in London and another in the Yorkshire area the following day, the Met said. The seven men and one woman who were not indicted were released from custody on or before 10 May.
How Did Police Respond to the Alleged Espionage Investigation?
Commander Dominic Murphy, the head of the Met’s counter-terrorism command, stated: “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.” The National Security Act came into force on 20 December last year and revised and modified Britain’s espionage ruling, including the Official Secrets Acts dating to 1911.