Singaporean businessman the first person to be served 'notice of intended designation' under foreign interference law

SINGAPORE: Singaporean businessman Chan Man Ping Philip has been served a notice that the authorities will designate him as a "politically significant person" under a law to counter foreign interference.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Friday (Feb 2) that the Registrar of Foreign and Political Disclosures intends to impose the designation on Mr Chan, a 59-year-old naturalised Singapore citizen, under Section 48(1) of the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act, known as FICA. 

In response to a query from CNA, MHA said Mr Chan is the first person to be served a notice of intended designation under FICA provisions which came into force in December last year.

The law seeks to prevent, detect and disrupt the use of hostile information campaigns and local proxies by foreign entities intending to interfere in domestic politics.

"Politically significant persons" – also referred to as PSPs – can include political parties, political office holders, Members of Parliament, election candidates and their election agents. Mr Chan's case falls under a provision to designate individuals as a PSP if their activities are directed towards a political end, and it is in the public interest for the authorities to apply countermeasures under FICA.

The registrar served the notice to him on Friday, informing him of its intent, and he has 14 days to submit representations.

MHA said that the registrar assessed that Mr Chan "has shown susceptibility to be influenced by foreign actors, and willingness to advance their interests". The foreign actors involved were not identified.

The registrar also found that Mr Chan’s activities are "directed towards a political end in Singapore", and that it is in the public interest for countermeasures under FICA to be applied to him.

Speaking to CNA in a phone call, Mr Chan said he will deal with the authorities directly and that he would be submitting his representations next week. He also said that he has full trust and faith in the Singapore government.

As a designated politically significant person, Mr Chan would be required to disclose to the registrar annually political donations of S$10,000 (US$7,500) or more that he receives and accepts. He also has to disclose his foreign affiliations and migration benefits.

"These transparency requirements would help to detect and prevent any foreign interference directed towards a political end in Singapore," said MHA.

If he is designated a PSP, Mr Chan may appeal to the Minister for Home Affairs against the decision.

CHAN IMMIGRATED FROM HONG KONG IN 1990

The website of Wen Way Investments lists Mr Chan as the managing director of three companies – Wen Way, C&H Properties and Mutual Benefits Realty.

Mutual Benefits Realty is “focused on serving high net-worth clients from China” who want to buy or invest Singapore properties, the website says. Wen Way Investments makes real estate investments in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Mr Chan, who immigrated from Hong Kong in 1990, heads the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Singapore and has been the president of the Kowloon Club since 2011.

The association in Singapore supports immigrants mainly from Hong Kong, and there are numerous news articles in Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao about the association’s fundraising efforts for charity mentioning Mr Chan.

A search by CNA of Lianhe Zaobao's archives showed that between 2016 and 2019 the Chinese language news platform published 25 pieces by Mr Chan. Most of them were letters, but they also included some commentary and other articles.

The letters from him are on topics as diverse as the taxi industry and unruly drivers to reunion dinners. Some letters touch on global politics and China’s place in the world, such as one in 2018 titled “Wronged” which said that China has "suffered a lot of grievances".

In an article on a Chinese news website 52hrtt in June last year, Mr Chan is said to be an overseas representative at the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.

In excerpts from his interview with the website, Mr Chan said: "It is our duty as overseas Chinese to tell China’s story well, and to both spread and pass on the marvellous traditional Chinese culture while we are abroad.

"As a member of the Chinese Singaporean community, I have had my articles published in Lianhe Zaobao, a mainstream Chinese media in Singapore. However, my influence is limited. Since we can only do little alone, we therefore need to be more united."

He also said he hopes that overseas representatives of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) can form an alliance and organise an event to facilitate exchanges and sharing. This could be held every year with the help of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Offices, and would help overseas Chinese to “contribute towards telling China’s story well”.

Mr Chan has been involved in grassroots and fundraising efforts in Singapore for over a decade. Some of those activities brought him into contact with local politicians.

He was a patron of the Kampong Chai Chee Citizens' Consultative Committee and the Bukit Timah Community Club Management Committee.

He has stepped down from all grassroots appointments, the People's Association said in a statement on Friday after MHA's announcement.

PA did not respond to CNA's queries on the influence that Mr Chan held over grassroots activities in his appointments.

He had held those two positions since 2014, according to the website of SPD, a charity serving the disabled community, where Mr Chan is a member of the resource mobilisation and partnerships committee.

SPD has described the Kowloon Club as a "long-time supporter" under Mr Chan, with the club raising funds for the charity since 2011.

Kowloon Club also donated S$18,888 for the upgrading of Zhenghua Community Club last March. 

Two organisations have been designated PSPs – Think Centre, a non-governmental organisation advocating for democracy and human rights, and human rights NGO Maruah.