Last reviewed: June 2026
Chung Biu Yuen and Chi Leung Wai: The First People Jailed for Spying for China in the UK
This case marked a significant moment in UK national security enforcement: the first convictions for espionage on behalf of China under modern security laws. This page explains who the two men are, what they were found to have done, and how their sentences work, using factual language drawn from court reporting.
What were Yuen and Wai convicted of?
Both men were convicted of assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to the National Security Act 2023. The court heard they had carried out surveillance — described as “shadow policing operations” — on individuals in the UK between December 2023 and May 2024, on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and, ultimately, China.
The targets were Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigners and people protesting against the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities. Wai was additionally convicted of misusing his Border Force position to search a Home Office computer database for information about targets.
Who are the two men?
Chung Biu Yuen, 66, is a retired Hong Kong police officer who had worked at Hong Kong’s Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London. Chi Leung Wai, 41, worked for the UK Border Force and had also volunteered as an officer with the City of London Police — positions that gave him access he was found to have abused. The pair were arrested after a failed attempt to remove a former Hong Kong resident, Monica Kwong, from her flat in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, on 1 May 2024.
What were their sentences?
| Defendant | Role | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Chung Biu “Bill” Yuen, 66 | Ex-Hong Kong police officer; worked at HKETO London | 8 years |
| Chi Leung “Peter” Wai, 41 | UK Border Force worker; misused database access | 10 years |
How will these sentences be served?
National security and terrorism-related offences are on the excluded list under the Sentencing Act 2026, so the men do not qualify for the 33% “earned progression” early-release point. Offences of this kind are typically subject to later release points and to enhanced supervision arrangements. Both men are foreign nationals, which means immigration and deportation considerations may also arise at the end of any custodial term.
- “They were caught stealing state secrets.” The convictions concerned surveillance and intimidation of pro-democracy activists in the UK on behalf of a foreign state — not the theft of classified material.
- “They will be released after a third of their sentence.” No. National security offences are excluded from the 2026 earned-progression model.
- “This was a one-off rogue act.” Prosecutors presented it as organised surveillance directed by the Hong Kong authorities, making it the first conviction of its kind for spying for China in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
What law were they prosecuted under?
They were convicted of assisting a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act 2023, the modern framework that replaced older espionage legislation.
Why is this case considered a first?
They are believed to be the first people convicted of spying for China in the UK, making the case a landmark for national security prosecutions.
Who were the targets?
Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigners living in the UK and people protesting against the Hong Kong and Chinese governments. The men’s activities included a failed attempt to remove a former Hong Kong resident from her home.
Where are they now?
Both men are reported to be serving their sentences within the UK prison estate. Their precise locations are determined by the Prison Service based on security categorisation and are not always made public.
Further reading
For how custodial sentences are served, see our guide to the Sentencing Act 2026. Background on UK national security law is published by the Crown Prosecution Service and the UK Government.
This article reports on concluded court proceedings as a matter of public record.
