A former employee is under investigation, two weeks after Germany arrested three people on charges of spying for Beijing, according to the Hong Kong Trade Authority

Federal prosecutors said last month that three German nationals had been arrested on “strong suspicion” of working for Chinese intelligence services.

In a press release issued to mark the arrests on April 22, they identified one of the trio as Thomas R, without revealing his full name. The other two were the couple Herwig F and Ina F.

According to German media, the trio led an organization called “Smart City Verein”, or “Smart City Association” in English.

On the organization’s website, Thomas Reichenbach, Herwig Fischer and Ina Fischer are named as contacts and it says that the association strives for more efficient transport solutions through “innovative concepts”.

Reichenbach’s social media also revealed that he had worked as a marketing manager at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) since July 2022. It was not immediately clear when he stopped working for the organization.

Responding to The Post’s queries, a council spokesman said: “A former employee is being investigated for his alleged personal activities. To our knowledge, the HKTDC is not the subject of this investigation.”

It declined to provide further details.

German prosecutors said last month that Thomas R. was accused of acting as an agent for an employee of China’s Ministry of State Security, the country’s intelligence arm.

He is suspected of obtaining information about innovative technologies in Germany that had potential military applications, they added.

All three suspects are accused of collecting sensitive industrial data that could potentially expand “China’s naval combat power.”

The trio is also said to have bought a special laser in Germany on behalf of the Beijing secret service, which paid for the device, and exported it to China without authorization.

Ines Peterson, a spokeswoman for the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office, declined to confirm Thomas R.’s full identity or provide any further updates on the case.

A news release from German officials last month said the three suspects had appeared in court as part of further legal proceedings.

According to local media, at least two of the suspects remain in custody.