Chi Leung ‘Peter’ Wai and Chung Biu ‘Bill’ Yuen are in custody in the United Kingdom after becoming the first people ever convicted of spying for China on British soil. The two men were found guilty at the Old Bailey on 7 May 2026 of assisting a foreign intelligence service, ending a landmark national security trial that exposed a covert Chinese surveillance operation targeting Hong Kong dissidents living in the UK.

Who Are Peter Wai and Bill Yuen?

Chi Leung ‘Peter’ Wai, 40, worked as an officer for UK Border Force at Heathrow Airport and also served as a volunteer officer with the City of London Police. He is a dual British and Chinese national. Despite being employed by the Home Office to protect the UK border, Wai used his privileged access to conduct intelligence work on behalf of a foreign government.

Chung Biu ‘Bill’ Yuen, 65, is a retired Hong Kong police superintendent who, at the time of the offences, worked as an office manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in central London. The HKETO is an official representative body of the Hong Kong government in the UK. Yuen is also a dual British and Chinese national. Together, the two men formed a surveillance operation that prosecutors described as a “shadow policing” unit operating on behalf of Beijing.

What Did They Do?

Prosecutors told the Old Bailey jury that Yuen and Wai were tasked with carrying out covert surveillance and intelligence gathering for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and ultimately for China’s intelligence apparatus. Their primary targets were Hong Kong dissidents and pro-democracy activists who had fled to the UK following Beijing’s 2020 crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong.

In private messages, the two men referred to their targets as “cockroaches” — a term that echoed the language used by Beijing officials against pro-democracy protesters. Their surveillance extended beyond activists: they also monitored senior British politicians who had expressed support for Hong Kong’s democracy movement, including former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith.

Wai abused his position as a Border Force officer to run unauthorised searches of the Home Office Atlas immigration database, checking the details of foreign nationals — including dissidents and their family members — while off duty and during periods of sick leave. This information was then passed to Yuen, who directed operations from the HKETO in London.

How Were They Caught?

The investigation was led by Counter Terrorism Policing and the Security Service (MI5). Investigators monitored communications between Wai and Yuen and obtained evidence showing the pair relaying intelligence about Hong Kong dissidents back to HKSAR authorities. Wai’s unauthorised database searches were also identified through internal Home Office audit trails. Investigators found evidence that the two men used encrypted messaging and coded language in an attempt to conceal their activities.

Arrests were made following a lengthy covert investigation. The case was then referred to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised charges under the National Security Act 2023 — legislation specifically designed to prosecute foreign state-backed espionage activities. The trial lasted several weeks at the Old Bailey, during which the jury heard extensive evidence about the scope of the surveillance operation.

The Verdict and Charges

On 7 May 2026, the jury at the Old Bailey found both men guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act 2023. This was a historic verdict: Wai and Yuen became the first individuals ever convicted in the UK for spying on behalf of China.

In addition to the espionage conviction, Peter Wai was separately convicted of misconduct in public office for his unauthorised searches of the Home Office immigration database. Following the verdicts, both men were immediately remanded in custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for 15 May 2026.

What Sentence Do They Face?

Both Wai and Yuen face up to 14 years in prison under the National Security Act 2023. The actual sentences handed down on 15 May 2026 will depend on the judge’s assessment of the severity of the offending, the level of each defendant’s culpability, and the harm caused to national security and to the individuals who were surveilled.

Sentences for espionage-related offences in the UK have historically reflected the gravity of the betrayal involved, particularly where a defendant held a position of public trust. Wai’s role as a Border Force officer is likely to be treated as a serious aggravating factor. You can read more about how UK prisons manage long-term inmates at our guide to booking a prison visit or find out how to send money to a prisoner.

The Wider Implications

The convictions have been described by Amnesty International UK as exposing the chilling determination of Beijing to intimidate and harass Hongkongers living in Britain. The case prompted the UK government to summon the Chinese Ambassador following the verdicts. China’s foreign ministry dismissed the convictions as groundless and described them as a political stunt with no factual basis, mirroring Beijing’s consistent denials of state-sponsored espionage operations abroad.

The trial has raised serious questions about the extent to which foreign intelligence services have infiltrated UK institutions and public bodies. The use of the National Security Act 2023 demonstrates the legislation’s significance in addressing state-sponsored threats. For broader context on how the UK handles serious crimes, visit the Parole Board UK guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Peter Wai and Bill Yuen in prison?

Peter Wai and Bill Yuen are in custody because they were convicted on 7 May 2026 of assisting a foreign intelligence service by conducting covert surveillance of Hong Kong dissidents in the UK on behalf of China. They are remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on 15 May 2026 and face up to 14 years in prison.

What law were Peter Wai and Bill Yuen convicted under?

Both men were convicted under the National Security Act 2023, which was specifically introduced by Parliament to allow prosecution of individuals who assist foreign intelligence services. This was the first successful prosecution under these espionage provisions and the first Chinese spy conviction in UK legal history.

What did Peter Wai do with his Home Office database access?

Peter Wai used his Border Force officer credentials to conduct unauthorised searches of the Home Office Atlas immigration database while off duty and on sick leave. He accessed personal details of foreign nationals including Hong Kong dissidents and their family members, then passed this information to Bill Yuen who directed the intelligence operation.

What is the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office connection to this case?

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) is the official representative body of the Hong Kong government operating in London. Bill Yuen worked there as an office manager. Prosecutors argued that Yuen used his position at the HKETO to direct the surveillance operation on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and, by extension, China’s intelligence services.

How has China responded to the convictions?

China’s foreign ministry has dismissed the convictions as groundless and described them as a political stunt with no factual basis. The Chinese government does not acknowledge conducting espionage operations in the United Kingdom. Following the verdicts, the UK government summoned the Chinese Ambassador to register a formal diplomatic protest.