The espionage case involving Hong Kong’s Economic and Trade Office in London continued on March 19. Court proceedings revealed that the defendant Wai Chi-leung’s security company received over HK$1 million from the office in just eight months, and the first defendant, Yuen Chung-piu, had HK$120,000 deposited into his account by Wai Chi-leung through an unknown account within one week in mid-January 2024. The court also disclosed the defendants’ involvement in illegally accessing information on exiled former legislator Nathan Law.
Wai Chi-leung received millions from Hong Kong’s London office
According to Pursuer News, an anonymous police officer responsible for the investigation testified under cross-examination that the electronic data involved reached 24TB, mostly in Chinese. Due to a shortage of translators and the expiration of detention periods, prosecutors were unable to bring charges in time against eight other arrested individuals, including Chau Tin-tin and Sun Huaxing, who had already left the UK after being released.
Court records show that between June 2023 and January 2024, Hong Kong’s London Economic and Trade Office paid Wai Chi-leung’s “D5 Security Consultancy Ltd” £95,500 (approximately HK$1 million). Between February and March 2024, Yuen Chung-piu also deposited £5,500 (about HK$56,000) into Wai Chi-leung’s personal account.
Additionally, the court revealed that Wai Chi-leung, a former Border Force and immigration enforcement officer, along with the late third defendant Matthew Trickett, allegedly abused their authority by illegally accessing the Home Office’s entry-exit system (ATLAS) without authorization. Wai Chi-leung reportedly used the system 22 times between December 2023 and April 2024 to check other people’s travel records. Police found images of the system records on his phone and evidence that he had been instructed to check the records of five individuals.
Abuse of the entry-exit system to monitor Nathan Law
Matthew Trickett reportedly used ATLAS between June and September 2023 to check the travel records of exiled former legislator Nathan Law, who is wanted by the Hong Kong government, and misused the system again from Jan. 10–20, 2024. Under UK Home Office rules, Border Force personnel are prohibited from using ATLAS for personal purposes, and both Wai Chi-leung and Matthew Trickett had been trained on data security and system use.
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The Border Force also requires personnel to declare potential conflicts of interest and other secondary jobs, reviewed annually by supervisors. The Home Office confirmed that Wai Chi-leung only declared property rental income, failing to disclose his security or surveillance work or his ownership of D5 Security Consultancy Ltd. Matthew Trickett declared his security consulting side business but did not disclose work for D5 or Wai Chi-leung.
Late defendant showed anxiety and withdrawal before arrest
Prosecution witness James Coughlan, a current security consultant, testified that he served 17 years in the Royal Marines with Trickett and later worked in surveillance for a “secret agency,” meeting Trickett during Home Office immigration training.
Trickett had asked Coughlan about taking on a side job to monitor a woman, but Coughlan refused due to Home Office restrictions on potential conflicts of interest. Coughlan then introduced Jason Davies to Trickett for surveillance work. Trickett later paid Coughlan £900 in thanks, which Coughlan learned had been transferred by co-defendant Wai Chi-leung—shocking him as he did not personally know Wai.
During cross-examination, Coughlan said Trickett appeared very anxious two weeks before his arrest, seemed unable to focus during training, and showed signs consistent with autism, constantly asking questions about surveillance tasks, suggesting Trickett prioritized his “side business” even while still employed by the Home Office.
Defendants conducted ‘shadow police’ operations in the UK
BC previously reported that prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC described the defendants’ activities in the UK as “shadow police” operations for Hong Kong, monitoring Hong Kong pro-democracy dissidents such as Nathan Law and Joey Siu, and infiltrating local Hong Kong communities. At least three retired senior Hong Kong police officers participated and directed the “shadow police network” to extend Hong Kong authorities’ influence beyond their jurisdiction.
This is the first espionage case involving current officials since Hong Kong’s handover. The case is highly complex, including the mysterious death of one defendant before trial. Yet mainstream Hong Kong media have largely ignored what is otherwise an internationally sensational case.
By Li Jingyao
