Hong Kong’s former London Economic and Trade Office (ETO) staff member Matthew Trickett, accused of monitoring Hong Kong exiles overseas and charged by the UK government with foreign interference, died suddenly on Sunday afternoon (19th). Former Legislative Council member Nathan Law, who was reportedly under surveillance in the case, expressed suspicions of foul play and warned of potential hidden forces at play, saying, “In times of uncertainty, all we can do is take care of ourselves.”
Moreover, online photos revealed that during an event attended by Education Bureau Director Daisy Yeung in January, Trickett appeared to be working as on-site security. He was also captured in another setting sitting at the same table as co-defendant Andy Yuen, the ETO’s Executive Director.
Following the UK police’s announcement of the incident on the afternoon of the 21st, Nathan Law posted on social media at 2:30 am on the 22nd London time, mentioning that the prosecution lawyer had claimed the suspect had attempted suicide while in custody and argued against granting bail due to concerns for his welfare. However, Trickett was ultimately granted bail by the judge.
Nathan described the incident as a “tragedy” and questioned whether it was suicide or murder, bringing up Trickett’s prior suicide attempt during his detention. He stressed the mysterious nature of the case, occurring in a public park where anyone could enter freely, adding to the intrigue of the story.
He further speculated on the possible existence of a sinister agenda, questioning if there might be further threats to other “thorns in the side” residing in the UK if Trickett was indeed silenced by someone. Nathan also pondered on how the UK government and the Hong Kong community should respond if dark forces were at work.
In the wake of the espionage allegations involving the Hong Kong ETO, Nathan empathized with those feeling disturbed, highlighting concerns for personal safety and the uncertain road ahead. He urged the community to provide support in the face of different crises and expressed solidarity with those enduring hardships.
Likewise targeted for surveillance, Lau Cho Tik shared a BBC report on Trickett’s death on the “X” platform, stating that he was utterly shocked by the news.
Writer and current affairs commentator Winston Fung recently remarked on Trickett’s behavior following his arrest, noting stark differences in responses compared to co-defendants Andy Yuen and Wilson Wai. Fung pointed out Trickett’s apparent shame and reluctance to face the press during his bail process, interpreting his actions as a sign of feeling “hopeless.”
The park where Trickett’s body was found near the Maidenhead railway station was described by a local resident as bustling on Sundays, with many people and children present. Fung questioned the likelihood of someone, particularly a public figure, choosing to end their life in such a public setting.
Fung suggested that if it was murder, the choice of location would make more sense strategically. He speculated on potential motives behind such a plot, including silencing a potential whistleblower and sending a warning to the other two defendants.
Matthew Trickett, as per UK company records, founded a security consultancy company, MTR Consultancy, in April 2021 and then co-founded D5 Consultancy Services Limited in March with a woman named Man Ching Daisy Ng; however, he resigned from the latter position after just over a month.
In a separate incident, Education Bureau Director Daisy Yeung was photographed alongside Hong Kong students and teachers during a visit to the UK in January. Trickett was seen in the photos, dressed in a black suit with an exhibition badge around his neck, standing near Yeung. Additionally, Yeung was seated at the same table as Trickett and Yuen in a later photo taken at a Chinese restaurant.
Co-defendant Wilson Wai also previously served as a security guard for high-ranking officials in Hong Kong. During Financial Secretary Yiu Chung-yim’s 2023 visit to London for the Global Financial Summit, he encountered protests, and Wai was captured by our UK correspondent sitting in the driver’s seat of Yiu’s team vehicle.
These intertwined events continue to raise questions and speculation among the public, fueling conversations about the complexities of power dynamics and unseen influences at play.