Hong Kong Watch responds to reports of the arrest of a PRC spy operating in the UK Parliament

Hong Kong Watch is shocked and deeply concerned regarding reports in the Times newspaper over the weekend that someone known to the China watching community in Parliament is alleged to have been spying on behalf of the People’s Republic of China.

As an organisation whose staff and work may have been targeted by this individual, it is concerning to first hear of these allegations not from the intelligence services or government officials, but in the national newspapers.

We urge the Government and intelligence services to conduct a full and robust investigation into how these individuals were able to penetrate Parliament and the China watching circle and take the necessary steps to protect activists and advocates within the community.

This should include guidance on further security measures that can be taken and direct financial support to protect and develop China expertise and the work of human rights NGOs like Hong Kong Watch here in the UK.

Ministers must take this development as further evidence of the malign intentions of the People’s Republic of China towards the UK and finally publish a standalone China strategy.

We cannot allow UK democracy to be undermined by the intentions of a hostile state, which is cracking down on human rights in Hong Kong, and seeks to target activists and advocates here in the UK.