A 60-year-old Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer named William Majcher has been arrested for allegedly helping China, police said on Saturday.

He was arrested in Hong Kong.

"According to the investigation, Mr. Majcher allegedly used his knowledge and his extensive network of contacts in Canada to obtain intelligence or services to benefit the People's Republic of China," RMCP said in a statement.

The Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) launched an investigation in fall 2021 regarding William Majcher's suspicious activities.

It is alleged that he contributed to the Chinese government's efforts to identify and intimidate an individual outside the scope of Canadian law.

The RCMP has a mandate to detect and disrupt foreign interference attempts.

It investigates activities by individuals that pose a risk to Canadian institutions and the economy.

"Foreign actor interference is a priority for many law enforcement and intelligence agencies around the world. The use of these kinds of covert and unofficial operations in Canada by persons mandated by a foreign state is likely to undermine Canada's democratic and judicial processes and threaten Canada's sovereignty," the police said in a statement.

The RCMP and its partners are working together with vulnerable sectors to improve Canada's response and resiliency to this threat.