Singapore Denies Entry to Hong Kong Activist Nathan Law for Alleged Political Reasons
Singapore denies entry to Hong Kong activist Nathan Law for undisclosed reasons, sparking political speculation
Activist Nathan Law, currently residing in London and previously a resident of Hong Kong, was barred from entering Singapore over the weekend. Law had been scheduled to attend a private event but was denied entry four hours after being detained at Changi Airport.
Law is one of several Hong Kong activists who have left the city in recent years following the implementation of a National Security Law. The activist, who holds a Singaporean visa for the event, had traveled from San Francisco prior to the denial. No official explanation was provided for the entry refusal.
In a statement, Law suggested that political motivations were likely behind the decision, though he couldn’t definitively confirm if external forces, such as mainland China, played a role in the matter. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the official name of the Chinese government, to which Law referred using its acronym.
Authorities in Singapore confirmed the denial of entry, stating that visa holders are subject to additional checks at border control. They added that Law’s presence would not be in line with Singapore’s national interests given the outstanding warrant for his arrest issued by Hong Kong police under their National Security Law.
Although Singapore has an extradition agreement with Hong Kong, it does not appear to cover national security offenses. In 2023, warrants were issued for Law and other self-exiled activists, and rewards of HKD 1 million ($127,600) were offered for information leading to their arrests.
Law is accused of collaborating with foreign entities and inciting secession for his alleged advocacy of sanctions and the independence of Hong Kong from China in meetings with foreign officials, open letters, petitions, social media posts, and media interviews.
Hong Kong, a Chinese territory with its own legal system, came under tightened control by Beijing in 2020 following widespread anti-government protests the previous year, which led to the imposition of a National Security Law on the city’s population of 7.5 million people.
Law gained prominence as a student leader during the pro-democracy Umbrella Revolution in 2014, alongside fellow activist Joshua Wong, who remains imprisoned in Hong Kong. After being elected to the legislature in 2016, Law was disqualified following an altercation regarding his oath of allegiance to China.