Its 110-page document on Hong Kong’s national security laws, which is currently under consultation, also cited the Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act.
Regarding espionage-related crimes, the financial center suggested “referring” to the laws of Australia and Singapore and replacing the concept of “enemy” with the concept of “external forces” since the definition of enemy is just too restrictive. However, external forces may very well be broader and include any foreign government, the authority of any external territory, an external political organization or related entities, he quotes.
Referring to a different newly proposed offense of “external interference”, the Hong Kong government also suggested referring to the Foreign Interference Measures Act, which introduced offenses of “secret foreign interference in electronic communications activities” punishable by imprisonment of seven to 14 days. years.
Two other national security crimes that Hong Kong took references from Singapore are the Penal Code 1871 and the Internal Security Act 1960.
The MHA statement didn’t name foreign entities or countries deemed to have foreign influence within the Chan case. In articles and interviews, the businessman stated that he got here to Singapore from Hong Kong in 1990.
He is believed to be the primary person to receive such notice under the Fica, which got here into force in December last 12 months.
At the time, the MHA said the bill geared toward foreign interference in Singapore’s domestic politics “to enable Singaporeans to proceed to make our own decisions about how we govern our country and the way we live.”
Under Fica, an individual of political importance is defined as someone who’s subject to the “most stringent remedial measures” given the person’s direct involvement in Singapore’s political processes.
These will probably be political parties, political office holders, members of parliament (MPs), members of the central executive committee of political parties and election candidates and their electoral agents.
FICA also authorizes the competent authority to designate individuals and organizations as individuals of political importance if the suitable conditions are met.
Its latest provisions geared toward countering foreign interference carried out through national proxies entered into force on December 29 last 12 months.
If Chan were considered a politically significant person, she would need to disclose certain information to the Registrar of Foreign and Political Information yearly. These include political donations of S$10,000 (US$7,500) or more that he receives and accepts, overseas connections and migration advantages.
“These transparency requirements would help detect and prevent any foreign interference aimed at achieving political objectives in Singapore,” the MHA said.
Chan has 14 days from Friday to make representations to the registrar. He may appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs, K. Shanmugam, against the choice of the registrar, if one has been appointed.
As of December 29 last 12 months, two NGOs, Think Center and Maruah, were recognized as politically significant individuals.
A public search on the web site of Singapore’s Chinese-language every day Lianhe Zaobao found that it published 25 of Chan’s articles between 2016 and 2019 under his Chinese name.
Most of them were letters, but there have been also columns and other articles. These articles covered topics similar to filial piety, Cantonese pop music, and his experiences as a Hong Kong immigrant.
In an interview with Chinese-language website Huaren Toutiao on March 6 last 12 months, Chan stressed the importance of “informing the world concerning the real China.” He was interviewed as a “foreign representative” of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
“It is our duty as Chinese abroad to inform China’s history well, and to spread and transmit the wonderful traditional Chinese culture after we are abroad,” he was quoted as saying.
“As a member of Singapore’s Chinese community, my articles have been published on Lianhe Zaobao, the main Chinese media in Singapore. However, my influence is limited. Since we cannot do much alone, we must be more united.”
He also expressed that after the “two sessions” in China, Chinese representatives of “all walks of life” can “form an alliance” and hold an annual event with the assistance of China’s various foreign affairs offices to deepen the understanding and strengthen friendship amongst overseas Chinese, in order that “we will unite and proceed to contribute to telling China’s story well.”
“Two sessions” refers back to the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, that are held concurrently.
On SPD’s disability website, Chan is described as patron of the Punggol Park Community Center Management Committee since January 2014 and patron of the Bukit Timah Community Club Management Committee since September 2014.
In response to an inquiry today, the People’s Association said he’s the patron of the Kampong Chai Chee Citizens’ Consultative Committee and the Bukit Timah Community Club Management Committee.
“He resigned from all grassroots positions,” he added.
Chan can also be president of the Kowloon Club, a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 whose members are overseas immigrants, most of them from Hong Kong.
He is the president of the Hong Kong Singapore Business Association, which facilitates contacts between entrepreneurs from Hong Kong and Singapore.
He can also be the managing director of Mutual Benefits Realty and Wen Way Investments, an actual estate investment company.
In 2020, Chan founded China Link Education Consultancy, which offers a certification course for people in search of education or employment opportunities in China.
The consulting firm has an office based in Shenzhen, China, and collaborates with Shenzhen University and the Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology.
Additional reporting by Lilian Cheng
