Singapore has designated the 59-year-old businessman as a “politically important person” under its foreign interference law for the first time.
The man, Chan Man Ping Phillip, was born in Hong Kong and is a Singaporean citizen.
“The Registrar assessed that Mr Chan was susceptible to influence by foreign actors and demonstrated a willingness to promote their interests,” the Home Office said in a media statement on Friday.
“The Registrar assessed that Chan’s activities were directed towards political objectives in Singapore and that countermeasures under FICA (Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act) applicable to Chan were in the public interest.”
Mr. Chan declined to comment. He will be the first person to be punished under the Foreign Interference Act, which will come into effect in July 2022.
The government has not said which foreign interests Mr Chan is promoting in Singapore, but in March last year Mr Chan joined the Chinese People’s Politics in Beijing, a largely ceremonial advisory body to China’s parliament. He was one of 30 overseas Chinese who attended the annual general meeting of the Consultative Council.
At the time, he told local media that representatives of the overseas Chinese community should form an “alliance” and “tell China’s story well.”
Mr Chan was warned in 2019 for facilitating a gathering at his restaurant to discuss anti-government protests in Hong Kong, The Straits Times reported. Mr Chan maintains ties with Chinese-ruled Hong Kong as chairman of the Hong Kong-Singapore Business Association.
He is the Managing Director of Wen Wei Investment Co., Singapore, the real estate investment arm of Amarr International Group headquartered in Shenzhen.
As a “politically important person”, Mr Chan must disclose political donations of more than S$10,000 a year, foreign partnerships and immigration benefits he has received.
“These transparency requirements will help detect and prevent foreign interference aimed at political objectives in Singapore,” the Home Office said.
(Reuters)