On December 15, 2024, it was reported that a business partner of Prince Andrew, the Duke of York in the UK, was suspected to be a spy for the Chinese Communist Party and was banned from entering the UK. The Chinese businessman known as “H6” appealed the decision but was rejected by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) on Thursday. This exposure not only revealed the relationship between “H6” and Prince Andrew but also unveiled his true identity.
On Friday, Prince Andrew’s office released a statement emphasizing that he has “ceased all contact” with H6 based on the advice of the UK government. The statement clarified that Prince Andrew got to know this individual “through official channels” and they never discussed any sensitive issues.
However, the statement did not specify when the contact with H6 was terminated or how long they had been in association. It mentioned that Prince Andrew is unable to further comment on national security-related matters.
According to the public court ruling, H6 was born in 1974, received his university education in China, worked in a government department for several years, then pursued further studies in the UK in 2002, obtaining a Master’s degree in Public Management and Public Policy from the University of York. After graduating, H6 founded a company in the UK in 2005, initially providing travel services and later expanding into investment and consultancy areas. In 2013, H6 was granted permanent residency in the UK.
The close relationship between H6 and Prince Andrew has raised significant concerns within the UK government.
According to case materials, H6 is an honorary member of the 48 Group Club in the UK, which includes several prominent British figures. The UK Home Office believes that this membership could have provided H6 with opportunities to foster relationships that could potentially be exploited by China (CCP) for political interference purposes.
The court ruling revealed that the relationship between H6 and Prince Andrew was unusually close, demonstrated through multiple correspondences, notably a letter dated March 30, 2020, authored by Dominic Hampshire, a senior consultant to Prince Andrew, highlighting the significance of H6 within the prince’s inner circle.
Regarding reports of H6 being banned from entering the UK due to suspected connections with the CCP’s United Front Work Department, a spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in the UK dismissed them as fabricated “spy” stories, labeling them as “slanderous.”
Several UK MPs and political figures have called for the public disclosure of the identity of this mysterious businessman. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman stated in a media interview, “Revealing the identity of this accused Chinese spy is in the public and national security interest. We are constantly facing threats and attacks from hostile countries like China (CCP).”
Shadow Cabinet Minister Chris Philp also expressed to the media, “Exposing the identity of foreign spies is crucial—similar to the case of Li Zhenj…