Singapore goes after Hong Kong-born businessman linked to ‘foreign interference’
Philip Chan, 59, is the first to come under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act, adopted in 2022 to deal with growing pressure from the People's Republic of China (PRC). A real estate developer linked to a Shenzhen-based group, Chan attended the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing last year.
Singapore (AsiaNews) – For the first time since it came into force in July 2022, Singapore’s Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act has been used to classify a 59-year-old businessman born in Hong Kong, Philip Chan Man Ping, as a "politically relevant person”.
“The Registrar has assessed that Chan has shown susceptibility to be influenced by foreign actors, and willingness to advance their interests,” reads a statement released by the Home Affairs Ministry on 2 February.
While the government did not say which foreign country's interest Chan was pushing in Singapore, Chan was among 30 overseas Chinese who in March last year participated in the yearly session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing, a largely ceremonial advisory body of China's parliament.
At the time, he told local media that representatives from the overseas Chinese community should form an “alliance” and “tell the China story well”.
In 2019, Chan was warned for facilitating a meeting at a restaurant he owns to discuss the Hong Kong anti-government protests, reported The Straits Times.
As a “politically relevant person”, Chan must disclose annually political donations of S, 000 or more, that he receives and accepts, foreign affiliations, and migration benefits.
In response to a query from The Straits Times, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on 5 February that Mr Chan, as president of the Hong Kong Singapore Business Association (HSBA), has promoted cooperation between Hong Kong and Singapore.
“China has always refrained from interfering in the internal affairs of other countries and has no intention of commenting on this specific matter,” added the spokesperson in a written response.
Meanwhile, Chan resigned from the HSBA, effective 2 February. “We extend our deepest gratitude to Mr Chan for his invaluable contributions, dedication, and leadership during his tenure,” said the HSBA, which connects business communities in Singapore and Hong Kong, and seeks to boost industry and commerce between the two cities and China.
“This decision was made with the understanding that his term would naturally conclude in June 2024, and, as part of the succession planning, it was anticipated that a new president would be selected and voted in by the end of his term,” HSBA added.
Chan is a real estate investor by profession and president of the Kowloon Club, which helps new immigrants settle into Singapore.
He is the managing director of Singapore's Wen Way Investments Pte Ltd, the real estate investment arm of Shenzhen-headquartered Amer International Group.
Chan now has 14 days from 2 February to submit representations to the Registrar of Foreign and Political Disclosures. If he is designated as a politically relevant person, he can appeal against the registrar’s decision to Singapore's Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam.
The businessman said he had no statements to make, nor will he make public his presentations to the registrar.
The incident has renewed debate on China's clout in Singapore.
Veteran diplomat Ong Keng Yong, who is the executive deputy chairman of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said the ease of doing business and operating among foreign corporations and organisations via Singapore, has emboldened Chinese companies and entities to use Singapore to extend their clout in the region and beyond.
“From this perspective, efforts have been made to cultivate relevant opinion makers and policy people. The idea is to have a PRC-friendly constituency,” said Ong. Hence, the pool of Chinese expatriates or naturalised Singaporean citizens of Chinese origin is important.
“Initially, cultivation efforts revolved around business and some ancestry ties. This has now become more obvious and those inside this circle have become bolder and outgoing,” he added, noting that Chan is one such individual.
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09/03/2005
05/10/2021 16:02
