LONDON: Two men, including one who worked as a British immigration officer, were jailed on Thursday after being convicted of spying on prominent pro-democracy dissidents now based in Britain on behalf of Hong Kong, and ultimately China. Chung Biu “Bill” Yuen, 66, and Chi Leung “Peter” Wai, 41, who worked for the UK Border Force, were convicted last month of assisting a foreign intelligence service by carrying out surveillance on targets between December 2023 and May 2024. They are believed to be the first people to have been convicted of spying for China in Britain.

Their convictions followed a trial last month that exposed an alleged network used to monitor Hong Kong activists and dissidents living in the United Kingdom.

A former U.K. border official and a retired Hong Kong police officer have been sentenced for spying on dissidents in Britain.