A Hong Kong government trade office employee charged in the UK over allegations of spying has pleaded not guilty, with trial set to begin in March.

Trial of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office’s Bill Yuen and UK Border Force officer Peter Wai set to start in March of next year.

Two men denied a charge of assisting Hong Kong's foreign intelligence service in Britain before a London court on Thursday. Chung Biu Yuen, 64, and Chi Leung Wai, 39, also known as Peter Wai, pleaded "not guilty" at the Old Bailey to two charges under Britain's National Security Act,

Chi Leung Wai and Chung Biu Yuen are alleged to have agreed to undertake information gathering, surveillance and acts of deception.