MI5 warns of possible Chinese spy operating inside Westminster
Christine Ching Kui Lee was allegedly working for Beijing in the UK
Intelligence services in the UK have warned politicians about a potential Chinese spy operating in the country.
MI5 addressed MPs in a warning about Christine Ching Kui Lee, over claims she was covertly working on 'political interference activities' on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The woman is alleged to have engaged with politicians in the UK, including Westminster, whilst receiving financial donations from China and Hong Kong.
In a covering letter on the issue from House Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, some of the MPs Ms Lee contacted included members of the Chinese in Britain All Party Parliamentary Group, which has now disbanded.
The statement from MI5 went on to say that Ms Lee had "acted covertly" together with the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the CCP to "interfere in UK politics through establishing links with established and aspiring parliamentarians across the political spectrum".
Intelligence services acknowledged that Ms Lee publicly stated she was to donate funds to represent the Chinese community in the UK, but noted that the donations were in co-ordination with the UFWD, with extra funds coming from Beijing and Hong Kong.
Details about Ms Lee's exact whereabouts and her motives have been given to prominent politicians, including Home Secretary Priti Patel.
In a statement, Ms Patel reassured the public of the lack of threat the agent would pose to identify 'foreign interferences'.
"I know it will be deeply concerning to many that an individual who has knowingly engaged in political interference activities on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party has targeted parliamentarians," she said.
Patel went on to say that where necessary, "proportionate action is always taken to mitigate these threats, thanks to our world-leading intelligence and security agencies", meaning the threats to the public should remain low.
Reacting to the breach in security, former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith called for an overhaul of granting clearance to politicians.
He also noted that there were thousands of Hong Kong residents who had fled to the UK to avoid the communist regime that could now be at risk.
"We have names and numbers of people, and that leaves me worrying that some of these have been accessed by such an individual," he said.
"These will be their lives and families at risk and I am deeply concerned about this because my activities therefore may well have therefore been traced, as those as well from my colleagues and friends."