HK govt demands UK 'fairly handle' case of three charged with assisting intel service

The Hong Kong government demanded the UK government to “fairly handle the matter” after three men appeared in a London court Monday on charges that they helped the Hong Kong intelligence service gather information in Britain.

The government issued a statement late on Monday stating that it has asked the UK side “to provide full details of relevant information of the alleged matter concerned” and is awaiting the response.

It also seriously demanded the UK to fairly handle the matter and effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office's Office Manager who was alleged to be involved.

The SAR government urged the UK side to ensure that the normal work of the Economic and Trade Office is not affected.

Separately, the Chinese Embassy in the UK issued a statement noting it "firmly rejects and strongly condemns the UK's fabrication of the so-called case and its unwarranted accusation against the HKSAR government."

"For some time now, the UK has staged a series of accusations against China, including those on "China spies" and cyber attacks," the statement wrote. "All those accusations are groundless and slanderous."

It added that the UK has wantonly harassed, arrested and detained Chinese citizens under the pretext of judicial and national security. 

"This constitutes a grave provocation against China and severely contravenes the basic norms governing international relations."

The Embassy urged the UK to stop spreading the so-call "China threat theory" and end all forms of political manipulation against China, and ensure all the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the UK.

Read more:UK police charge three men with helping Hong Kong's foreign intelligence service