Parliament investigates claims China sent a spy to infiltrate a House of Commons briefing

Claims that China sent a spy to infiltrate a House of Commons briefing by Hong Kong dissidents are to be probed by parliamentary bosses.

The investigation comes after this newspaper’s revelations that a man claiming to be a tourist tried to gatecrash the private event on the top floor of the high-security Palace of Westminster.

He attempted to enter a meeting addressed by Finn Lau and Christopher Mung to an audience of around 50 journalists, peers and MPs. He left after a brief stand off.

Mr Lau and Mr Mung are among three exiled Hong Kong activists who have £100,000 arrest bounties put on their heads by the city’s Beijing-controlled police.

Pro-democracy campaigners have accused the gate-crasher of being a Chinese Communist Party informer intent on filming, stalking and harassing those at the event. 

Many Hong Kongers at the event kept their faces covered throughout the talk because of these concerns. 

Tonight Mr Lau told The Mail: ‘I am astonished by the bold actions of the intruder. There are multiple layers of security in Parliament and this incident shows how far China is willing to go to harass dissidents.

‘I appreciate and welcome this investigation as it may expose the extent of China’s transnational repression.’

Members of the public may visit Parliament on guided tours but are forbidden to roam away from tour routes without supervision.

Finn Lau (left) and Christopher Mung (right) are among three exiled Hong Kong activists who have £100,000 arrest bounties put on their heads by the city’s Beijing-controlled police

It is unknown how long the alleged spy wandered around the Commons unsupervised or where he went.

The investigation, already started, may look into how this man was able to freely walk around restricted areas of parliament.

In an online statement, China’s embassy in London accused Britain of hiding ‘fugitives’ and interfering in ‘China’s internal affairs’.

Two days ago the relatives of pro-democracy activist Nathan Law, who fled to Britain in 2020, were taken away for questioning after police in Hong Kong raided their home.

It is unknown how long the suspected Chinese spy spent inside the Palace of Westminster (pictured) before being discovered

MI5 boss Ken McCallum warned that it had seen ‘more concerning activity’ from China including the ‘harassment and assault’ of Chinese dissidents living in Britain. 

A House of Commons spokesman said: ‘The safety and security of all those who work and visit in Parliament is our top priority, however we cannot comment on our security measures.’

Catherine West MP, Labour’s spokesman for Asia and the Pacific, said: ‘This is a serious allegation and it is absolutely right that Parliament is investigating it.

‘It comes against a backdrop of increasing attempts to harass and intimidate Hong Kongers who have made their home here. The Government must take this seriously.’