Britain will summon the Chinese ambassador after two men were convicted in London of spying on behalf of Hong Kong and, ultimately, China, Security Minister Dan Jarvis said. The convictions relate to efforts to target prominent pro‑democracy dissidents now living in the UK.
Jarvis said the actions amounted to an infringement of UK sovereignty and would not be tolerated. He added that the government would continue to hold China to account and would challenge directly any activity that puts people in the country at risk. The Foreign Office will summon the ambassador to make clear that such conduct is unacceptable on UK soil.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London responded that Beijing had lodged solemn representations with the British government and would take necessary measures to safeguard its interests. The embassy described the prosecutions as a political move, accusing the UK of abusing the law and manipulating the judicial process to encourage anti‑China elements in Britain and to smear the Chinese and Hong Kong SAR governments.
Among the two convicted was a British immigration officer. Court findings say the pair carried out spying activities that targeted dissidents who had relocated to the UK for safety.
The case adds to already strained ties between London and Beijing following Beijing’s national security crackdown on the 2019 pro‑democracy protests in Hong Kong. Hong Kong was a British territory for 156 years before returning to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, and that history continues to factor into contemporary diplomatic tensions.
The incident highlights UK officials’ concerns about foreign intelligence activity on British soil and signals a direct diplomatic response from London as relations with China remain fraught.
