Former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten has spoken about the recent controversy involving Prince Andrew and allegations of espionage, hinting that Andrew might have been an unintentional target of Chinese operatives.
Patten, who governed Hong Kong until its handover to China in 1997, shared his views on the situation, saying that Andrew appears to be a “hapless victim” of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) tactics in the UK.
He also expressed doubt that Andrew had access to or shared any sensitive government information, stating, “I don’t think Andrew has large numbers of state secrets.”
The accusations centered around an alleged Chinese spy, referred to as “H6,” who reportedly gained a surprising level of trust with Andrew and became close to him.
It was later revealed that “H6” is actually Yang Tengbo, a 50-year-old businessman who arrived in the UK in 2002 and held director roles in five British companies.
Yang denied all allegations, calling the accusations of espionage “entirely untrue.” Despite his denial, a tribunal ruled that there was enough evidence to classify him as a security risk, leading to his ban from the UK. Yang has since announced his intention to appeal this decision.
In response to the allegations, Prince Andrew stated that he ended all contact with Yang after receiving advice from the government. His office clarified that the two met only through official channels and that their conversations never involved sensitive topics.
Meanwhile, another issue concerning Prince Andrew has drawn attention: his residence at Royal Lodge, a £30 million estate with annual maintenance costs of £400,000.
Reports suggested that Andrew was struggling to cover these costs, prompting King Charles to suggest that his brother move to the smaller Frogmore Cottage. However, Andrew reportedly secured financial backing from an undisclosed source, allowing him to stay at Royal Lodge.
According to The Times’ Royal Editor, Kate Mansey, Andrew has assured the Keeper of the Privy Purse, Sir Michael Stevens, that his finances are legitimate.
This comes after previous questions were raised about where his money comes from. Despite the controversies, Andrew remains adamant that his actions are above board and that the financial support he receives is entirely proper.
