Threats of espionage are everywhere
Threats of espionage are everywhere
The Hong Kong version of “colour revolution” in 2019 completely demonstrates that local organisations and individuals are willing to serve as agents of overseas political organisations or intelligence organisations and engage in acts and activities that endanger national security, espionage activities in particular. With the development of cyber networks, the threats of cyber theft of state secrets are ever increasing.
In 2013, Edward Snowden, a former employee of a service contractor of CIA, disclosed the secret surveillance and spying activities carried out by the United States. The United States had been conducting for a long time secret surveillance operations around the world under the “Prism programme” in the name of national security. Snowden also revealed that British intelligence agency had been secretly collecting information from Internet users around the world through the “Tempora operation” and shared its information with other intelligence agencies.
In addition, Snowden revealed that the United States National Security Agency had launched more than 61 000 hacking operations around the world and has been intruding into hundreds of computers in Chinese mainland and Hong Kong since 2009. This type of cyber espionage activities poses a major threat to national security.
In April 2019
Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State of the United States, said in a speech at Texas A&M University, “I was the CIA Director. We lied, we cheated and we stole. We had entire training courses.”
In 2022
Richard Moore, Director of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), declared at the Aspen Security Forum in the United States that MI6 under his lead would make “containing China a top priority for the agency, and its importance exceeds counter-terrorism”. MI6 would recruit secret intelligence personnel from different countries and organisations around the world to gain in-depth information about China.
In 2023
CIA Director William Burns claimed at the Aspen Security Forum that “The United States has established a new intelligence network in China.” The CIA has also set up a China Mission Center, claiming that it aims to “respond to the global challenges brought by China.”
The dire threats of espionage
As the composite national strength of our country increases, our country has gradually become a prime target of intelligence spying. Foreign intelligence agencies use all possible means and tricks to obtain our country’s secrets, which include cyberattack, incitation for overseas defection, indirect espionage, deep infiltration, sexual favour, benefits inducement, illegal surveillance and monitoring, etc.
Scan this QR code for some of the true cases of espionage that have been disclosed
Safeguarding national security is the responsibility of every citizen, and a legal bottom line. We must not be tempted by any illegitimate interests to act in a way that endangers national security. We must always beware of being infiltrated by spies as “the foe may be around”. When encountering suspected espionage and intelligence infiltration activities, you should promptly report to the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force (email nsd-public@police.gov.hk ; SMS number 6271 7171).
