UK Issues Security Guidelines in Response to China and Hong Kong's Cross-Border Repression in Britain
The UK has issued new guidelines to help its citizens identify and respond to cross-border repression by China and Hong Kong, following the successful conviction of two individuals under the 2023 National Security Act. MI5's National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) highlighted various forms of repression and reaffirmed the UK government's strong opposition to Hong Kong's National Security Law.
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- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 12:24
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Central News Agency (London, May 8th) – The UK, for the first time, used the 2023 'National Security Act' to counter the long-arm jurisdiction implemented by Hong Kong and Beijing authorities in the UK, successfully convicting two individuals of Chinese descent. Today, UK intelligence and security agencies issued new guidelines, advising various sectors in the UK on how to deal with cross-border repression.
The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), part of the UK's domestic intelligence and security agency 'MI5,' today released a guide on 'cross-border repression,' providing examples of various possible forms of cross-border repression to help the public identify them and seek assistance.
The guidelines state that cross-border repression can occur in physical or cyber space; some foreign governments target individuals they perceive as 'threats' or wish to control, including those who openly oppose the government.
According to the guidelines, although the number of people affected by cross-border repression in the UK is 'small,' the impact on targeted individuals and communities can be quite severe.
The examples in the guidelines mention Hong Kong, pointing out that in July 2025, the UK Home and Foreign Secretaries issued a joint statement in response to several instances where Hong Kong authorities issued bounty warrants for specific individuals residing in the UK, with bounties of HK$1 million (approximately NT$4 million) offered for information leading to arrests. At that time, the British statement characterized such actions by the Hong Kong government as 'cross-border repression.'
Although the Hong Kong government issued arrest warrants based on violations of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the NPSA guidelines reiterate that the UK government 'strongly opposes' the Hong Kong National Security Law, which undermines the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong citizens.
The guidelines then present various possible forms of cross-border repression, including harassment, intimidation, verbal attacks via social media, and malicious fabrication and dissemination of false information; violent attacks or threats of violence during protests, stalking and surveillance; applying pressure through relatives in their home country, such as having relatives convey warnings from authorities, forcing targeted individuals to be silent or act discreetly to avoid endangering relatives' safety; and using various coercive and deceptive means to force or induce individuals to return home.
Several possible scenarios are described in the guidelines. One example is an exiled political activist invited to participate in a documentary, sharing personal political views and the persecution encountered in their home country. Soon after, a website appears online full of false and damaging information about this person.
Another example is a journalist working in the UK who published an article critical of a foreign government. Soon, the journalist's mother in their home country receives attention from authorities, with officials visiting. Government representatives warn the mother that she will lose her job unless her son returns from the UK. The mother then contacts her son working in the UK, informing him of the intimidation.
Yet another example is an exiled dissident who suddenly receives contact from an old classmate not heard from for a long time, inviting him to meet in a country bordering his homeland, with the old classmate covering travel and accommodation costs. However, when the dissident arrives at the hotel, he is met not by his classmate, but by a group of men who roughly force him into an unmarked vehicle and drive him across the border back to his homeland.
On May 7th, at the Central Criminal Court in London, retired Hong Kong police officer and former administrative manager of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, Yuen Song-Biu, and former UK Border Force member and police officer, Wai Chi-Leung, were convicted of illegally assisting foreign intelligence agents and will be sentenced at a later date. Yuen Song-Biu and Wai Chi-Leung were accused of serving Hong Kong and Beijing authorities, collecting intelligence, monitoring, and intimidating specific individuals.
On May 7th, UK Minister for Security Dan Jarvis stated that the Foreign Office would summon the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, emphasizing that China's infringement on UK sovereignty and the activities carried out by the convicted individuals within the UK would never be tolerated by the UK. However, the UK Foreign Office has not yet issued a statement regarding summoning the Chinese Ambassador, nor has it confirmed that officials have directly expressed their position to the Chinese Ambassador.
The Chinese Embassy in the UK accused the British side on May 7th of abusing the law and 'supporting anti-China elements fleeing Hong Kong who are in the UK,' stating that it had lodged 'solemn representations' with the British side. (Editor: Chen Cheng-Kung) 1150509
The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), part of the UK's domestic intelligence and security agency 'MI5,' today released a guide on 'cross-border repression,' providing examples of various possible forms of cross-border repression to help the public identify them and seek assistance.
The guidelines state that cross-border repression can occur in physical or cyber space; some foreign governments target individuals they perceive as 'threats' or wish to control, including those who openly oppose the government.
According to the guidelines, although the number of people affected by cross-border repression in the UK is 'small,' the impact on targeted individuals and communities can be quite severe.
The examples in the guidelines mention Hong Kong, pointing out that in July 2025, the UK Home and Foreign Secretaries issued a joint statement in response to several instances where Hong Kong authorities issued bounty warrants for specific individuals residing in the UK, with bounties of HK$1 million (approximately NT$4 million) offered for information leading to arrests. At that time, the British statement characterized such actions by the Hong Kong government as 'cross-border repression.'
Although the Hong Kong government issued arrest warrants based on violations of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the NPSA guidelines reiterate that the UK government 'strongly opposes' the Hong Kong National Security Law, which undermines the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong citizens.
The guidelines then present various possible forms of cross-border repression, including harassment, intimidation, verbal attacks via social media, and malicious fabrication and dissemination of false information; violent attacks or threats of violence during protests, stalking and surveillance; applying pressure through relatives in their home country, such as having relatives convey warnings from authorities, forcing targeted individuals to be silent or act discreetly to avoid endangering relatives' safety; and using various coercive and deceptive means to force or induce individuals to return home.
Several possible scenarios are described in the guidelines. One example is an exiled political activist invited to participate in a documentary, sharing personal political views and the persecution encountered in their home country. Soon after, a website appears online full of false and damaging information about this person.
Another example is a journalist working in the UK who published an article critical of a foreign government. Soon, the journalist's mother in their home country receives attention from authorities, with officials visiting. Government representatives warn the mother that she will lose her job unless her son returns from the UK. The mother then contacts her son working in the UK, informing him of the intimidation.
Yet another example is an exiled dissident who suddenly receives contact from an old classmate not heard from for a long time, inviting him to meet in a country bordering his homeland, with the old classmate covering travel and accommodation costs. However, when the dissident arrives at the hotel, he is met not by his classmate, but by a group of men who roughly force him into an unmarked vehicle and drive him across the border back to his homeland.
On May 7th, at the Central Criminal Court in London, retired Hong Kong police officer and former administrative manager of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, Yuen Song-Biu, and former UK Border Force member and police officer, Wai Chi-Leung, were convicted of illegally assisting foreign intelligence agents and will be sentenced at a later date. Yuen Song-Biu and Wai Chi-Leung were accused of serving Hong Kong and Beijing authorities, collecting intelligence, monitoring, and intimidating specific individuals.
On May 7th, UK Minister for Security Dan Jarvis stated that the Foreign Office would summon the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, emphasizing that China's infringement on UK sovereignty and the activities carried out by the convicted individuals within the UK would never be tolerated by the UK. However, the UK Foreign Office has not yet issued a statement regarding summoning the Chinese Ambassador, nor has it confirmed that officials have directly expressed their position to the Chinese Ambassador.
The Chinese Embassy in the UK accused the British side on May 7th of abusing the law and 'supporting anti-China elements fleeing Hong Kong who are in the UK,' stating that it had lodged 'solemn representations' with the British side. (Editor: Chen Cheng-Kung) 1150509