Prince Andrew could face fresh embarrassment after judges ruled that further documents relating to his dealings with an alleged Chinese spy can be released.
A witness statement made by the duke’s ‘senior aide’ Dominic Hampshire, containing comments about his work with Andrew which ‘might seem embarrassing or indiscreet’, will be among a cache of files released to the public.
They were submitted in support of an appeal by Yang Tengbo – also known as Chris Yang – against a decision to ban him from Britain on national security grounds.
Yang, a businessman and former York University student, was barred from returning to the country after intelligence agencies suspected he was gaining access to influential public figures on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party [CCP]. Mr Yang denies the allegations.
At an earlier hearing, a court heard that Yang had become a ‘close confidant’ of Andrew who had ‘won a significant degree, one could say an unusual degree, of trust’,
Following an appeal by the media for the release of further documents in relation to Yang’s appeal to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission [SIAC], Mr Justice Bourne, sitting alongside Judge Stephen Smith and Sir Stewart Eldon yesterday said documents including Mr Hampshire’s witness statement could be disclosed.
‘Substantial parts of the witness statement contain material which cannot possibly be said to be confidential, such as information about Mr Hampshire’s background or about how he came to know Mr Yang,’ Mr Justice Bourne said.
‘There is information about his own activities which has no appearance of any particular confidentiality. There is also information about the Duke of York which is in the public domain, for example the negative impact of the Duke’s 2019 Newsnight interview.’
Prince Andrew could face fresh embarrassment after judges ruled that further documents relating to his dealings with an alleged Chinese spy can be released
Yang Tengbo (left) was barred from returning to the country after intelligence agencies suspected he was gaining access to influential public figures on behalf of the Chinese Communist PartyÂ
A witness statement made by the duke’s ‘senior aide’ Dominic Hampshire (pictured), containing comments about Yang’s work with Andrew which ‘might seem embarrassing or indiscreet’, will be among a cache of files released to the public
He added: ‘There are also comments about Mr Hampshire’s work with the Duke which might seem embarrassing or indiscreet, but they are not such as to give rise to the inference that a legal duty of confidentiality attaches to them.’
Representing the media, including the Daily Mail, Adam Wolanski KC said it was ‘extraordinary’ that Mr Hampshire, a former Scots Guard and equerry to the Duke of Kent, did not take legal advice before providing his statement.
Mr Hampshire was said to be of the belief that his statement would remain private.
Documents previously released in the case show Mr Hampshire had thanked Yang for standing by Andrew following his 2019 Newsnight interview over his relationship with late billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Yang was also invited to Andrew’s 60th birthday party and was integral in launching the duke’s Dragons Den-style investment roadshow, Pitch@Palace, in China.
One letter written by Mr Hampshire to Yang and released following an earlier court hearing, said: ‘I also hope that it is clear to you where you sit with my principal [Andrew] and indeed his family.
‘You should never underestimate the strength of that relationship… Outside of his closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.’
The documents are due to be released next month.