A pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong, Nathan Law, was denied entry to Singapore despite having an approved visa. The Singaporean government stated that his presence would not align with national interests. Law, currently living in the United Kingdom, arrived in Singapore on a Saturday to participate in a private conference but was detained for four hours at the border.
According to Law, no specific reasons were provided for the denial of entry during his questioning. The Ministry of Home Affairs in Singapore remarked that Law is wanted by Hong Kong authorities on charges of threatening national security. Singapore maintains an extradition treaty with Hong Kong, which allows for the potential handover of individuals wanted for prosecution.
A spokesperson for the ministry emphasized that entry to the country is subject to additional checks, regardless of visa status. They clarified that Law underwent an immigration assessment upon arrival, which led to the decision to deny him entry. The Singaporean government has historically taken a cautious approach regarding foreign political matters, having previously stated its opposition to the involvement of foreign politics within the country.
Law expressed his belief that the entry denial was politically motivated and speculated on possible external influences, including the People’s Republic of China. He noted that he had applied for a visa that permitted a short visit and had received approval three weeks prior to his travel. He possesses a UK Refugee Travel Document.
After his denial of entry, Law was sent back on the earliest flight to San Francisco. The conference organizers did not provide a comment regarding the situation. Law is a notable figure in the pro-democracy movement of Hong Kong and left the region in 2020 after the imposition of a national security law by China, which penalizes various forms of dissent. In 2021, he was granted asylum in the UK.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rv1r11y30o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss