Despite lacking an invitation and refusing to disclose the organization he represented, the man insisted on attending the event
A spy disguised as a tourist was reportedly sent by China to observe a briefing conducted by two Hong Kong pro-democracy activists at the Commons.
On Wednesday, July 5th, the unidentified man was denied entry to the invitation-only talk held in a private committee room in Westminster after officials discovered he was not on the approved guest list.
The event, chaired by Tory MP Bob Seely, featured Finn Lau and Christopher Mung, dissidents who sought refuge in the UK.
Beijing-controlled police have placed £100,000 bounties on their heads, accusing them of breaching security laws.
However, suspicions arose when an individual claiming to be a tourist arrived and stated that a tour guide had directed him to the room.
Despite lacking an invitation and refusing to disclose the organization he represented, the man insisted on attending the event.
Approximately 200 people attended the briefing, including Hong Kongers who covered their faces due to safety concerns. Lau and Mung face the threat of arrest if they return to China and have expressed fears for their safety even in the UK, as arrest warrants have been issued for four other activists.
The pair had previously requested a meeting with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to address their security concerns.
Lau, the founder of the Hong Kong Liberty group, suspects that the attempted intruder was likely sent on behalf of China’s Communist Party.
He pointed out that the remote committee room on the top floor of Parliament makes it unlikely for a random Chinese tourist to be outside the room at the exact time of the event, suggesting a deliberate intent to access the briefing.
MP Bob Seely condemned the alleged incident, stating that if true, it exemplifies the incompetence and malicious behavior of the Chinese regime.
He deemed it completely inappropriate for Beijing to send an operative to intimidate or surveil individuals during a private parliamentary event.
Notably, several prominent British politicians, including former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, have faced sanctions imposed by the Chinese government over allegations of human rights abuses in the country in recent years.
