Singapore has designated the 59-year-old businessman as a “politically important person” under its foreign interference law, which will be applied for the first time.
The man, Philip Chan Manping (Chen Wenping), is a Singaporean citizen born in Hong Kong.
“The Registrar assesses that Mr Chan is susceptible to the influence of foreign actors and has demonstrated a willingness to promote their interests,” Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement on Friday.
File photo: Retrieved from Chan’s Instagram
“The Registrar assessed that Chan’s activities were directed towards political objectives in Singapore and were in the public interest as a countermeasure under FICA.” [Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act] It would also apply to Chan.”
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 disclosed which foreign interests Mr Chan is promoting in Singapore, but Mr Chan attended the annual general meeting of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Beijing in March last year.30 He was one of the Chinese people. People’s Assembly.
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 Hong Kong as chairman of the Hong Kong Singapore Business Association.
He is Managing Director of Wen Wei Investment Co., Singapore, the real estate investment arm of Amer International Group headquartered in Shenzhen.
As a “politically important person,” Mr. Chan must receive political contributions of at least S$10,000 (US$7,435) annually and must disclose foreign affiliations and immigration allowances.
“These transparency requirements will help detect and prevent foreign interference aimed at political objectives in Singapore,” the Home Office said.
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