China ‘sends spy’ disguised as tourist to Parliament to infiltrate House of Commons briefing
THE House of Commons is investigating allegations a Chinese spy infiltrated Parliament last week.
Campaigners say a shady man claiming to be a tourist tried to enter a private briefing by Hong Kong democracy activists.
The first reported that the alleged spy attempted to get into the event but was blocked at the door because his name wasn't on the guest list.
The main claimed to have been directed to the talk as part of an official tour.
After a short confrontation he left the vicinity.
Bob Seely, the Tory MP who organised the event, said: "If this was a Chinese Communist Party spy then it is yet another example of this regime’s cack-handed malign incompetence.
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"It would be completely inappropriate for Beijing to send an operative to intimidate or record people inside a private parliamentary event."
Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Alicia Kearns told The Sun: "These reports are very concerning.
"We have seen how far the CCP is prepared to take its repression of freedoms in Hong Kong. Now it suggests they have information on private meetings in Parliament.
"We must protect the right of brave Hong Kongers to speak out against the actions of the PRC, not least in the mother of all Parliaments, and do everything in our power to prevent Beijing from pursuing its campaign of transnational repression on UK soil."
Serious concerns have been growing in Westminster over Chinese government attempts to spy on British politicians and critics of the Communist state.
Last year MI5 accused Labour donor Christine Lee of channelling cash from Beijing to influence parliament as it publicly warned MPs and peers to avoid her.
And this year Security Minister Tom Tugendhat blasted China for running "unacceptable" police service stations in the UK.
In a stern warning to the Chinese Embassy in London, Mr Tugendhat said: "They must not operate in any form."
At the Commons gathering last week, activists Finn Lau and Christopher Mung addressed the room.
The inspirational campaigners have had a shocking £100,000 arrest bounty put on them by the Chinese controlled Hong Kong police.
Around 200 politicians, activists and journalists were invited to attend the event.
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The Commons is currently investigating the intruder and whether he has direct links to Beijing.
Parliamentary authorities are refraining from commenting at this time.