In a situation that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official described as “deeply concerning,” police in London charged three people with aiding Hong Kong’s knowledge service on Monday.
Chi Leung Wai, 38, Matthew Trickett, 37, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, all from southeast England, were eventually released on bail after a judge reading.
One of the three people charged later was the director of the Hong Kong government’s trade office in London, the Hong Kong government claimed.
China’s international politics director in Hong Kong warned of a “firm and strong reprisal” against further English says.
STRAINED Relations
Since Beijing returned Hong Kong to China in 1997, London has become extremely critical of Beijing, accusing it of breaking its commitment to maintain the “one country, two systems” process.
A crackdown on pro-democracy politicians in its former town and a national security law that it claims weakens rights and freedoms has been consistently condemned.
Zheng said the UK was “harbouring… wanted thieves” by offering citizenship and a path to membership in the UK of rebel Hong Kongers.
The summons wo n’t help ease the country’s strained ties, which have been worsened by UK criticism of alleged human rights violations against the Uyghur minority in China.
Next month, two people, including a former UK political scientist, were charged with spying for China, which was again denied by Beijing.
However, GCHQ, the mind of the UK’s knowledge, security, and digital agency, remarked that China posed a “genuine and growing cyber risk.”
China has developed a number of advanced computer features, according to GCHQ producer Anne Keast-Burger at a press conference on Tuesday.
” Through their authoritarian and destabilising activities, the PRC ( People’s Republic of China ) poses a major threat to global norms and values”, she added.
She continued,” Her organization now gives China more resources than any other single goal.”
In March, the UK, the US, and New Zealand claimed that cybergroups supported by Beijing were responsible for a number of attacks on politicians and important political organizations.