New Hong Kong Watch survey research on TNR calls for enhanced foreign interference measures

Today, Hong Kong Watch is calling on the UK government to include the People’s Republic of China in the enhanced tier of the UK’s Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), as new survey data exposes the concerning extent of transnational repression (TNR) experienced by the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK. 

Today, Hong Kong Watch is publishing its latest survey of over 1,000 Hong Kongers in the UK, which found that two-thirds (66%) of Hong Kongers in the UK feel at risk of transnational repression, with one-sixth (17%) feeling ‘majorly’ at risk. Even more concerningly, one-sixth of Hong Kongers (16.8%) reported that they had personally experienced infiltration of a Hong Kong group by hostile actors over the past year. 

Recent events have provided evidence to substantiate these concerns. On Thursday 7 May, two men, Peter Wai and Bill Yuen, the office manager at the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office (HKETO) in London, were found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service, an offence under the 2023 National Security Act. In the course of the trial, the court heard that Mr. Wai infiltrated Hong Kong pro-democracy groups and was instructed to gather information on UK politicians.

Our survey found evidence to suggest that the risk of infiltration by hostile state actors prevents many Hong Kongers from participating in public events in the UK. Notably, 86% of Hong Kongers said that participating in public events in the UK puts family members in Hong Kong at risk, demonstrating the insidious reach of transnational repression from Hong Kong to the UK. 

In response to this verdict, Hong Kong Watch urges the UK government to:

  • Announce a comprehensive review of consular privileges and immunities granted to the HKETO in London;

  • Assess whether the continued operation of the HKETO in London is consistent with the UK’s national security interests; 

  • Include the People’s Republic of China in the enhanced tier of the UK’s Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS).

You can read the full briefing here. 

Thomas Benson, Head of Advocacy and Research at Hong Kong Watch, commented: 

“Our latest survey data demonstrates that transnational repression is affecting broad swathes of the Hong Kong diaspora, not merely a small number of pro-democracy activists. Many ordinary Hong Kongers living in the UK fear the impact on their families of participating in civic or political events in the UK. Following the guilty verdict last week, the UK government should immediately place China in the enhanced tier of FIRS.”

香港監察調查研究揭跨國鎮壓陰霾籠罩在英港人 籲英政府將中國納入「外國影響力登記計劃」進階級別及全面審查經貿辦

香港監察今天發表最新問卷調查結果，揭示在英港人社群經歷跨國鎮壓的程度令人憂慮，並呼籲英國政府將中國納入「外國影響力登記計劃」進階級別。

調查收到過千名在英港人的回應，發現三分之二（66%）的在英港人覺得受到跨國鎮壓威脅，其中六分之一（17%）覺得嚴重受到威脅。更令人擔憂的是，六分之一（16.8%）的港人表示在過去一年，他們曾親身經歷過港人團體或活動被敵對行為者（hostile actors）滲透的情況。

近期發生的事件證明這些憂慮屬實。星期四（7日），兩名男子：衛志樑（Peter Wai）和香港駐倫敦經濟貿易辦事處行政經理袁松彪（Bill Yuen）被裁定違反2023年英國《國家安全法》下的「協助外國情報機構」罪名成立。審訊過程揭露衛志樑滲透民主派港人團體，並按指示收集英國政界人士的情報。

調查發現表明，港人團體或活動被敵對行為者滲透的風險令很多港人避免在英國參加公眾活動。值得關注的是，86%的港人同意在英國參加公眾活動會為在港家人帶來風險，顯示跨國鎮壓的陰霾正從香港蔓延至英國。

因應這項裁決，香港監察促請英國政府：

  • 宣布對香港駐倫敦經貿辦享有的領事特權和豁免權展開全面審查；

  • 評估香港駐倫敦經貿辦繼續運作是否符合英國國家安全利益；

  • 將中國納入英國「外國影響力登記計劃」進階級別。

請在此處閱覽簡報全文。

香港監察倡議及研究主管、前英國國會研究員湯柏森（Thomas Benson）表示：

「我們最新的調查結果顯示，跨國鎮壓影響廣大港人社群，而非只是少數民主活動人士。很多居住在英國的普通香港人擔心他們在英國參與公民或政治活動會對家人造成影響。繼上星期的罪成裁決後，英國政府應立即將中國納入『外國影響力登記計劃』進階級別。」

Photo: Mx. Granger, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

NewsTom BensonHKETO, Hong Kong, UK, transnationalrepression