Latest news with #SpecialImmigrationAppealsCommission
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chinese ‘spy': I risked my reputation by supporting Prince Andrew
An alleged Chinese spy said he took a 'significant risk' to his reputation by continuing to support Prince Andrew after his disastrous Newsnight interview, documents have revealed. Yang Tengbo, who was banned from the UK on national security grounds, said he maintained 'loyalty and commitment' to the Duke despite the royal's general 'negative' perception in China. Yang was forced to leave the country on national security grounds in March 2023 and unsuccessfully challenged the decision at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission last year. UK authorities have alleged that he formed an 'unusual degree of trust' with the Duke and developed relationships with politicians to be 'leveraged' by China. On Friday, a secrecy order preventing the release of some documents linked to the case was lifted in the public interest after an application by publications, including The Telegraph. Among the newly published documents is a second witness statement from Yang, where he denied 'scheming to destabilise the UK' and said he was 'confused' as to why the British state believed he was a threat. Yang appears to have targeted the Duke through his Pitch@Palace initiative, a Dragons' Den-style competition launched in 2014, and he was later appointed to lead its Chinese arm, Pitch@Palace China, when it was launched two years later. In the 37-page statement, Yang said that Pitch@Palace China had been 'recognised as one of the top international entrepreneur and start-up platforms in the country' but that after the Duke's November 2019 interview with Emily Mailtis, 'everything changed'. 'Following that interview, all international partners of Pitch pulled out or distanced themselves from it,' he said. 'The Pitch Global team moved from their offices out of Buckingham Palace. But the intention was to maintain Pitch in some form.' He said Amanda Thirsk, the Duke's private secretary and the director of the Pitch@Palace initiative, asked whether he would continue to support the project, 'especially given the success we had achieved in China', and that he decided to do so despite believing it posed a risk. 'At a significant risk for me and my business reputationally, I agreed to continue to support Amanda and Pitch,' he said. 'I admired and respected the Duke in how engaged and passionate he was about supporting Chinese entrepreneurs. I felt I had also invested a huge amount of time, effort, and money into Pitch China and did not want that investment to go to waste.' The new documents included a witness statement from Dominic Hampshire, a senior adviser to Prince Andrew, that claimed the King held secret meetings with the Duke about his plans for a Chinese investment scheme run by Yang. Mr Hampshire claimed that the King was aware of an investment fund in which Yang was directly involved. Yang told the tribunal that he first met the Duke at a dinner in St James's Palace in 2014, having been introduced to Ms Thirsk by Sir Ron Dennis, the Formula 1 executive. Earlier in the statement, Yang said on setting up Pitch in China, the initiative was 'unknown there, and the Duke's reputation was fairly negative and based on reporting taken from the British media'. He said he persuaded others to 'take a risk alongside me and invest in what was essentially a start-up'. In his statement, Yang said that during his time working with the Duke, he had very little contact with him and could not have influenced the Duke. 'There would literally be no way I could possibly exert any unwanted influence on his team, or him. If anything, I was using my own networks and understanding of China to help with Pitch build[ing] a positive brand in China,' he said. He said being a representative of the Chinese business community in the UK meant meeting members of the Chinese Communist Party was 'unavoidable' but 'this does not mean I am working for this organisation, for its interests, or on its behalf'. 'I am definitively not scheming to destabilise the UK or its institutions or prominent individuals, and I am not acting against the national interests of the UK. I am not a threat to the security of the UK, and I feel very insulted to be accused of this and without seeing any material evidence against me to support this.' He later added: 'I am confused as to why the British state believes I am a threat to the public good on the grounds of national security.' Yang said that concerns about the 48 Group, which promotes trade between the UK and China and of which he is a member, were 'paranoid and far-fetched'. He said it was wrong to accuse him of spying and his 'prominent status as a successful Chinese entrepreneur in the UK' was 'nothing to do with me wanting to get access or exert influence in the UK '. 'I feel that the government completely misunderstands me and what I do. I don't deceive, I don't mislead, and I don't hide things to interfere with the interests of the UK.' Yang also claimed that the Duke had wanted him to become involved with a golf tournament and told him to contact Mr Hampshire during a dinner at Buckingham Palace in October 2019. 'During that dinner, the Duke said I should contact Dominic who runs his golf tournament,' Yang wrote. 'He said there may be opportunities to work with him on golf like we had done with Amanda for Pitch. The Duke wrote Dominic's number down on a piece of paper and I then reached out to Dominic.' Yang also suggested that the Duke wanted to keep a relationship with Chinese business in August 2021 because he 'needed money' Yang said that when the new ambassador, Zheng Zeguang, came to the UK, Hampshire was 'involved in the preparation of the talking points' of a call. He said the 'purpose of the note was to keep the Duke engaged without promising anything in terms of financial benefit because the Duke needed money at the time, and saw the relationships with China through Pitch as one possible source of funding.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
06-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Chinese ‘spy': I risked my reputation by supporting Prince Andrew
An alleged Chinese spy said he took a 'significant risk' to his reputation by continuing to support Prince Andrew after his disastrous Newsnight interview, documents have revealed. Yang Tengbo, who was banned from the UK on national security grounds, said he maintained 'loyalty and commitment' to the Duke despite the royal's general 'negative' perception in China. Yang was forced to leave the country on national security grounds in March 2023 and unsuccessfully challenged the decision at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission last year. UK authorities have alleged that he formed an 'unusual degree of trust' with the Duke and developed relationships with politicians to be 'leveraged' by China. Pitch@Palace initiative On Friday, a secrecy order preventing the release of some documents linked to the case was lifted in the public interest after an application by publications, including The Telegraph. Among the newly published documents is a second witness statement from Yang, where he denied 'scheming to destabilise the UK' and said he was 'confused' as to why the British state believed he was a threat. Yang appears to have targeted the Duke through his Pitch@Palace initiative, a Dragons' Den-style competition launched in 2014, and he was later appointed to lead its Chinese arm, Pitch@Palace China, when it was launched two years later. In the 37-page statement, Yang said that Pitch@Palace China had been 'recognised as one of the top international entrepreneur and start-up platforms in the country' but that after the Duke's November 2019 interview with Emily Mailtis, 'everything changed'. 'Following that interview, all international partners of Pitch pulled out or distanced themselves from it,' he said. 'The Pitch Global team moved from their offices out of Buckingham Palace. But the intention was to maintain Pitch in some form.' He said Amanda Thirsk, the Duke's private secretary and the director of the Pitch@Palace initiative, asked whether he would continue to support the project, 'especially given the success we had achieved in China', and that he decided to do so despite believing it posed a risk. 'At a significant risk for me and my business reputationally, I agreed to continue to support Amanda and Pitch,' he said. 'I admired and respected the Duke in how engaged and passionate he was about supporting Chinese entrepreneurs. I felt I had also invested a huge amount of time, effort, and money into Pitch China and did not want that investment to go to waste.' The new documents included a witness statement from Dominic Hampshire, a senior adviser to Prince Andrew, that claimed the King held secret meetings with the Duke about his plans for a Chinese investment scheme run by Yang. Mr Hampshire claimed that the King was aware of an investment fund in which Yang was directly involved. 'I am not a threat to UK security' Yang told the tribunal that he first met the Duke at a dinner in St James's Palace in 2014, having been introduced to Ms Thirsk by Sir Ron Dennis, the Formula 1 executive. Earlier in the statement, Yang said on setting up Pitch in China, the initiative was 'unknown there, and the Duke's reputation was fairly negative and based on reporting taken from the British media'. He said he persuaded others to 'take a risk alongside me and invest in what was essentially a start-up'. In his statement, Yang said that during his time working with the Duke, he had very little contact with him and could not have influenced the Duke. 'There would literally be no way I could possibly exert any unwanted influence on his team, or him. If anything, I was using my own networks and understanding of China to help with Pitch build[ing] a positive brand in China,' he said. He said being a representative of the Chinese business community in the UK meant meeting members of the Chinese Communist Party was 'unavoidable' but 'this does not mean I am working for this organisation, for its interests, or on its behalf'. 'I am definitively not scheming to destabilise the UK or its institutions or prominent individuals, and I am not acting against the national interests of the UK. I am not a threat to the security of the UK, and I feel very insulted to be accused of this and without seeing any material evidence against me to support this.' He later added: 'I am confused as to why the British state believes I am a threat to the public good on the grounds of national security.' 'I don't deceive, I don't mislead' Yang said that concerns about the 48 Group, which promotes trade between the UK and China and of which he is a member, were 'paranoid and far-fetched'. He said it was wrong to accuse him of spying and his ' prominent status as a successful Chinese entrepreneur in the UK' was 'nothing to do with me wanting to get access or exert influence in the UK '. 'I feel that the government completely misunderstands me and what I do. I don't deceive, I don't mislead, and I don't hide things to interfere with the interests of the UK.' Yang also claimed that the Duke had wanted him to become involved with a golf tournament and told him to contact Mr Hampshire during a dinner at Buckingham Palace in October 2019. 'During that dinner, the Duke said I should contact Dominic who runs his golf tournament,' Yang wrote. 'He said there may be opportunities to work with him on golf like we had done with Amanda for Pitch. The Duke wrote Dominic's number down on a piece of paper and I then reached out to Dominic.' Yang also suggested that the Duke wanted to keep a relationship with Chinese business in August 2021 because he 'needed money' Yang said that when the new ambassador, Zheng Zeguang, came to the UK, Hampshire was 'involved in the preparation of the talking points' of a call. He said the 'purpose of the note was to keep the Duke engaged without promising anything in terms of financial benefit because the Duke needed money at the time, and saw the relationships with China through Pitch as one possible source of funding.'
The Independent
04-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Andrew ‘sent yearly birthday letters to Chinese leader', tribunal hears
The Duke of York 'always had a communication channel' with the Chinese leader and Andrew would send him birthday letters, a tribunal heard. Andrew's former senior adviser Dominic Hampshire said the royal household, including the late Queen Elizabeth II, were 'fully aware' of the duke's communication with President Xi Jinping and may have even encouraged it. His witness statement was disclosed to the media on Friday after being used in the Special Immigration Appeals Commission case related to Yang Tengbo, who Mr Hampshire referred to as Chris. Mr Hampshire said: 'The duke has always had a communication channel with the president, largely to support the success of Pitch@Palace in China, and this was never hidden. 'As is my job, I would draft these letters with the help of those, in this instance Chris, that understood how messages need to be conveyed due to cultural differences. At no time did I have any concerns of the contents.' Mr Hampshire said that Andrew would send a letter to Xi Jinping for his birthday each year. He continued: 'The royal household, including the late Queen, were fully aware of this communication – it was certainly accepted, and it may be fair to say that perhaps, even encouraged – it was an open channel of communication that was useful to have. 'It was not a channel that was hidden from the royal household.' He added: 'Importantly, it was also a channel that pre-existed the duke's relationship with Chris and me, with the duke hosting the president during his state visit to the UK in 2015.' Mr Hampshire also said that he believes that Andrew 'must surely be a valuable communication point with China'. He added: 'Whilst I think China would prefer a different royal, the reality is, to this day, that if the UK government or the palace said that someone needs to see the Chinese president and talk to him, I think the duke would be able to do that, whereas I don't think anyone else could do so as simply.'
The Independent
04-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Prince Andrew's aide reveals royal household's response to Newsnight grilling
Documents, including a witness statement of Andrew's former senior adviser Dominic Hampshire, have been made public in a tribunal over an alleged Chinese spy. Yang Tengbo – also known as Chris Yang – was excluded from the UK on national security grounds by then home secretary Suella Braverman in March 2023. He has previously said he had 'done nothing wrong or unlawful'. He unsuccessfully challenged the decision at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) last year, with judges finding the businessman was a 'close confidant' of Andrew and had 'won a significant degree, one could say an unusual degree, of trust' from the duke. On Friday, it was revealed in Mr Hampshire's 10-page statement that it was a 'common feeling' in the royal household that the Duke of York 's reputation was 'irrecoverable' following his 2019 Newsnight interview over his relationship with late billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 'After the Newsnight interview and in the following few months, it was clear that the duke's reputation was irrecoverable,' Mr Hampshire said. 'This was a common feeling within the royal household, despite what the duke thought may happen. 'It was very clear internally within the royal household that we would have to look at options for the duke's future away from royal duties.' Also in the statement, Mr Hampshire said that he liked and trusted Mr Yang, adding: 'In the five or so years I have known him, there has never been one single red flag in my head.' Mr Hampshire said the duke's Pitch@Palace initiative, set up to support entrepreneurs, was one of Andrew's 'indisputable successes', and that hopes were placed on it continuing internationally. Mr Yang was the founder-partner of Pitch@Palace China, and Mr Hampshire said he had not deserted the duke while UK sponsors and supporters of Andrew's initiative were 'falling away' after the interview. The former adviser, who told the tribunal he had spent 10 years in the British Army, including as an intelligence officer in Belfast, later said that a degree of confidentiality was required due to the amount of leaks in the royal household. He said: 'Every time the duke does anything, the media attempts to destroy or at very least, malign him, often via individuals who leak documents or intel to the press. 'To progress in anything we do, everything has to be confidential where at all possible, not just with the Chinese.' The tribunal was previously told that in a briefing for the Home Secretary in July 2023, officials claimed Mr Yang had been in a position to generate relationships between prominent UK figures and senior Chinese officials 'that could be leveraged for political interference purposes'. They also said that the businessman had downplayed his relationship with the Chinese state, which combined with his relationship with Andrew, represented a threat to national security. In his written evidence, Mr Hampshire said that Mr Yang 'categorically does not have a close relationship with the duke'. He continued: 'Anyone who understands how a member of the British royal family is looked after/advised would immediately know this. 'Chris, of course, doesn't have the duke's telephone number or his email address and does not have the ability to talk directly to the duke on his own – ever. 'This is normal practice and Chris's relationship with the duke is the same as numerous others – this is my role – to protect him.' In a statement as the documents were made public on Friday, Mr Hampshire said he left the royal household in 2022 and no longer provides advice to Andrew. He also said that Andrew 'fully complied' with advice to end all contact with Mr Yang. He said: 'The desire to keep my witness statement out of the media was solely to protect the confidential interactions I had with Buckingham Palace and the intelligence services. 'The Palace was kept informed of all my commercial endeavours on behalf of The Duke of York, and full disclosure of all communications with Mr Yang, the Hampton Group and China was offered to both Buckingham Palace and the intelligence services. 'At all times I sought to protect the best interests of the Royal Family with integrity and loyalty. 'For the record, as soon as The Duke of York was advised to cease all contact with Mr Yang, he fully complied. 'He did not receive a penny in funding or support, directly or indirectly, from any Chinese individual or entity. 'In my personal business capacity, I continued dealings with the Hampton Group in China – which is not sanctioned – and, in accordance with current UK policy, doing business in China and with Chinese individuals is entirely legitimate. 'I am now a private businessman and none of my business interests are connected to any member of the Royal Family.' The specialist tribunal previously heard Mr Hampshire was in contact with the intelligence services about Mr Yang – known as H6 during his legal battle – in 2022 before the decision to exclude him had been made. Mr Hampshire said he was not warned of the possibility of his previous evidence being made public, stating he 'would never have agreed to submit a witness statement' had he known. In a ruling in March, three judges said the statement could be disclosed, finding it was 'drafted explicitly to be used in support of representations' by Mr Yang. Mr Yang has previously said he intends to appeal against the decision upholding his ban from entering the UK.
The Independent
04-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Andrew and aide twice spoke to King about alleged spy-linked fund, tribunal told
The Duke of York and his former adviser twice went to Windsor 'without being seen' to talk to the King about an investment fund linked to an alleged Chinese spy, according to newly released tribunal documents. Yang Tengbo, who has previously said he had 'done nothing wrong or unlawful', was excluded from the UK on national security grounds in March 2023 after officials claimed he had been in a position to generate relationships between prominent UK figures and senior Chinese officials 'that could be leveraged for political interference purposes'. Mr Yang – also known as Chris Yang – unsuccessfully challenged the decision at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) last year, with judges finding the businessman was a 'close confidant' of Andrew and had 'won a significant degree, one could say an unusual degree, of trust' from the duke. Documents in the legal challenge, including the witness statement of Andrew's former senior adviser Dominic Hampshire, were made public on Friday following a request from several media organisations. Buckingham Palace said that while the King met Andrew and his adviser to discuss proposals for independent funding, Mr Yang 'was not mentioned at any time or in any way as part of these discussions'. In Mr Hampshire's 10-page statement, dated May 2024, the former aide told SIAC that he had met twice with Andrew and the King in the previous six months to discuss 'what the duke can do moving forwards in a way that is acceptable to His Majesty'. The former aide said both of these discussions covered topics including the Eurasia Fund, which Mr Yang described in his written evidence to the tribunal as a way to 'upgrade' the duke's Pitch@Palace initiative 'into an investment-type business, or a fund'. Mr Hampshire continued: 'For both these meetings with His Majesty, despite less media interest in the duke, we took all precautions to get in and out of Windsor Castle without being seen.' The former aide also said that Mr Yang had helped him draft letters which discussed the Eurasia Fund to Chinese president Xi Jinping, as well as being authorised to talk to 'relevant people' in China. In a statement, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: 'While His Majesty met with the duke and his adviser to hear outline proposals for independent funding over the past year, the individual known as H6 (Yang) was not mentioned at any time or in any way as part of these discussions.' The Palace is not commenting on individual claims in the testimony but it is understood the witness account does not conform with the Palace's record of events, and the Eurasia fund was never given any form of approval by the King or was discussed in any detail. In his statement, Mr Hampshire also said the duke's reputation was 'irrecoverable' following Andrew's 2019 Newsnight interview over his relationship with late billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which prompted a 'look at options for the duke's future away from royal duties'. Mr Hampshire said the duke's Pitch@Palace initiative, set up to support entrepreneurs, was one of Andrew's 'indisputable successes', and that hopes were placed on it continuing internationally. Mr Yang was the founder-partner of Pitch@Palace China, and Mr Hampshire said he had not deserted the duke while UK sponsors and supporters of Andrew's initiative were 'falling away' after the interview. The former aide also told the tribunal there had been a 'documented bombardment of the duke in the media' with photographers 'camped' outside Andrew's residence. He continued: 'There were daily attacks on the duke in the media with the press watching his every move, including who was going in and who was going out of Royal Lodge.' Mr Hampshire, who told the tribunal he had spent 10 years in the British Army, including as an intelligence officer in Belfast, later said that a degree of confidentiality was required due to the amount of leaks in the royal household. He said: 'Every time the duke does anything, the media attempts to destroy or at very least, malign him, often via individuals who leak documents or intel to the press. 'To progress in anything we do, everything has to be confidential where at all possible, not just with the Chinese.' In his written evidence, Mr Hampshire later said that Mr Yang 'categorically does not have a close relationship with the duke'. He continued: 'Anyone who understands how a member of the British royal family is looked after/advised would immediately know this. 'Chris, of course, doesn't have the duke's telephone number or his email address and does not have the ability to talk directly to the duke on his own – ever. 'This is normal practice and Chris's relationship with the duke is the same as numerous others – this is my role – to protect him.' In a statement as the documents were made public on Friday, Mr Hampshire said he left the royal household in 2022 and no longer provides advice to Andrew. He also said that Andrew 'fully complied' with advice to end all contact with Mr Yang. He added: 'The Palace was kept informed of all my commercial endeavours on behalf of The Duke of York, and full disclosure of all communications with Mr Yang, the Hampton Group and China was offered to both Buckingham Palace and the intelligence services. 'At all times I sought to protect the best interests of the Royal Family with integrity and loyalty.' Mr Hampshire continued: 'He did not receive a penny in funding or support, directly or indirectly, from any Chinese individual or entity. 'In my personal business capacity, I continued dealings with the Hampton Group in China – which is not sanctioned – and, in accordance with current UK policy, doing business in China and with Chinese individuals is entirely legitimate. 'I am now a private businessman and none of my business interests are connected to any member of the Royal Family.' Mr Hampshire previously said he was not warned of the possibility of his previous evidence being made public, stating he 'would never have agreed to submit a witness statement' had he known. In a ruling in March, three judges at SIAC said the statement could be disclosed, finding it was 'drafted explicitly to be used in support of representations' by Mr Yang. Mr Yang has previously said he intends to appeal against the decision upholding his ban from entering the UK.
