Britain to summon Chinese ambassador after spying convictions
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A flag flying on top of China's embassy in Portland Place, London. Two men were convicted on May 7 in Britain of spying on behalf of Hong Kong and ultimately China.
PHOTO: AFP
LONDON - Britain will summon the Chinese ambassador following the conviction of two men for spying on behalf of Hong Kong and ultimately China, Security Minister Dan Jarvis said in a statement on May 7.
“The activities carried out by these men, on behalf of China, are an infringement of our sovereignty and will never be tolerated,” Mr Jarvis said.
“We will continue to hold China to account and challenge them directly for actions which put the safety of people in our country at risk.
“That is why the Foreign Office will summon the Chinese Ambassador to make it clear activity like this was, and will always be, unacceptable on UK soil.”
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Britain said in a statement that it has lodged representations with the British government and China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its interests.
“The facts of this case clearly show that this is nothing but a political move of abusing the law and manipulating the judicial process by the UK side,” the spokesperson said.
“Its sole purpose is to embolden those anti-China elements who are hiding in the UK and bent on destabilising Hong Kong, and to smear the Chinese government and the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) government.”
A Hong Kong government spokesperson said in a statement that the allegations were absolutely not related to the Hong Kong government and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London (London ETO), nor were they party to the case.
“We firmly oppose any unfounded allegations against the HKSAR government and the London ETO,” the spokesperson said.
Two men, including a British immigration officer, were found guilty in a London court on May 7 of spying on behalf of Hong Kong and ultimately China, targeting prominent pro-democracy dissidents now based in Britain.
Relations between Britain and China have been strained since a national security crackdown on sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019 in Hong Kong, which was under British rule for 156 years before reverting to Chinese sovereignty almost three decades ago. REUTERS
