Businessman Philip Chan designated politically significant person under S’pore’s foreign interference law
The designation means Mr Philip Chan Man Ping will need to disclose political donations of $10,000 or more if he receives and accepts them. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE
Aqil Hamzah
UPDATED
FEB 26, 2024, 02:48 PM
SINGAPORE – Businessman Philip Chan Man Ping, 59, has officially been designated a politically significant person under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (Fica) as at Feb 26.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a statement the same day that the Registrar of Foreign and Political Disclosures was of the opinion that it is in the public interest for countermeasures to be applied to Mr Chan, who is the managing director of several real estate investment firms.
The registrar had considered Mr Chan’s representations, but “remains of the view that he should be designated as a politically significant person”.
The authorities had served the Hong Kong-born businessman a notice on Feb 2, outlining the intention to designate him as a politically significant person.
He was thought to have shown susceptibility to being influenced by foreign actors, and willingness to advance their interests, said MHA then.
In its latest statement, the ministry said Mr Chan should be designated a politically significant person, as his activities are “directed towards a political end in Singapore”.
The designation means he will need to disclose political donations of $10,000 or more if he receives and accepts them, as well as foreign affiliations and migration benefits.
Mr Chan, the first person to be dealt with under Fica, is allowed to appeal to the Minister for Home Affairs against the decision. The ministry did not give a deadline for the appeal.
Mr Chan told The Straits Times he had no comment regarding the decision.
In March 2023, he was invited to attend China’s Two Sessions parliamentary meetings as an “overseas Chinese representative”. The event is China’s most important political event of the year, and Mr Chan was one of 30 such representatives from across the globe who were invited.
During the meetings, he told the Chinese media that it is the duty of overseas Chinese communities to “tell China’s story well”, calling for overseas Chinese in various countries to coordinate ways to do so.
“If you want to have a future, you must stand with the country that represents the future. China is the country that represents the future,” he told Chinese Headline New Media (Huaren Toutiao).
Mr Chan is a naturalised Singaporean who came to the Republic more than 30 years ago.
The businessman had previously run afoul of the law here in October 2019, after he facilitated a public assembly discussing the Hong Kong protests at that time, without a permit. He was later issued a warning by the police.
The Oct 11 gathering came as Hong Kong was rocked by violent protests sparked by a Bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China.
It was held at The Sail @ Marina Bay’s Kimoto Gastro Bar, which Mr Chan was reported to have owned at the time. Participants, mainly Hong Kongers, were seen expressing their support for the Hong Kong police.
Mr Chan held several board and grassroots appointments.
After being served the notice of designation on Feb 2, he resigned from his role as president of the Hong Kong Singapore Business Association, as well as from charity organisation SPD, where he was part of its resource mobilisation and partnerships committee.
He also stepped down as a patron of the Kampong Chai Chee Citizens’ Consultative Committee and from the Bukit Timah Community Club management committee.
In addition, he is president of the Kowloon Club, which helps new immigrants, mostly from Hong Kong, to integrate into Singapore society. The Straits Times has contacted the organisation about Mr Chan’s current status in it.
On the business front, he is the managing director of Wen Way Investments and Mutual Benefits Realty, as well as chief executive at C&H Properties.
He is also the founder of China Link Education Consultancy, which aims to “nurture better understanding and more appreciation towards China from within the Asean communities”.
It organises courses aimed at young people and those interested in doing business in China, covering topics such as Chinese politics, economic development and customs.
