Singapore tycoon Robert Ng, his 3 children to be designated 'politically significant persons' under foreign interference law over links to China body

SINGAPORE: Four members of one of Singapore's richest families will be designated as "politically significant persons" under a law to counter foreign interference, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Monday (Apr 7).

Sino Group chairman Robert Ng and three of his children – Mr Daryl Ng, Ms Nikki Ng and Mr David Ng – declared to the Registry of Foreign and Political Disclosures in 2024 that they were members of a foreign legislature or foreign political organisation.

Based on their memberships, the registrar assessed that they should be designated as "politically significant persons" under Section 48(1) of the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act, or FICA.

Enacted in 2021, the law contains "countermeasures to prevent, detect and disrupt foreign interference in (Singapore's) domestic politics", according to MHA.

Checks by CNA showed that the four individuals hold positions in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body.

Unlike the National People’s Congress, the CPPCC has no lawmaking powers, but its suggestions can influence policymaking.

Mr Ng and his children were served notices on Apr 7, said MHA. 

"To be clear, the intended designations of the four individuals are not because they have engaged in any egregious activity," the ministry said in a press release. 

Mr Robert Ng and his children declared their involvement shortly before Mar 1, 2024, which was the deadline for Singapore citizens to declare their memberships with foreign legislatures or foreign political organisations. 

Singaporeans who were already members before Feb 1, 2024, had to do so by Mar 1 that year.

"We took some time to carefully assess the declarations thereafter, to determine if they crossed the thresholds for designation," said MHA in response to CNA queries. 

"Politically significant persons" can include political parties, political office holders, Members of Parliament, election candidates and their election agents. 

As a designated politically significant person, they must disclose to the registrar annually political donations of S$10,000 (US$7,400) or more that they receive and accept. They also have to disclose their foreign affiliations and migration benefits.

As of Mar 31, seven Singaporeans have declared their memberships in foreign legislatures or foreign political organisations, MHA said. 

Of the seven individuals who made declarations, the ministry has only issued the notices to the four members of the Ng family, it added. 

In further clarification to CNA, MHA said on Wednesday that the other three individuals were not issued notices as the Registrar of Foreign and Political Disclosures had assessed that they did not meet the designation thresholds.

"Some of the individuals are associated with but are not members of the Foreign Legislature/Foreign Political Organisation (FL/FPO) in question, while for the others, the entities of which they are a member do not fulfil the definition of a FL/FPO under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act," said MHA.

Singapore citizens who are members of foreign legislatures or foreign political organisations are required to declare such memberships to the Registry of Foreign and Political Disclosures.

Failure to do so is an offence, said MHA. 

Mr Robert Ng, 72, is chairman of Sino Group, one of Hong Kong’s leading property developers with interests in residential, commercial, hospitality and retail real estate.

He is the eldest son of the late tycoon Ng Teng Fong and, together with his brother Philip Ng, controls Far East Organization - Singapore’s largest private property developer and landlord.

CPPCC POSITIONS

According to his profile on Sino Group's website, he has been a member of the National Committee of the CPPCC, serving as deputy director of the committee for economic affairs. 

A press release by the Hong Kong government dated Mar 17, 2023, confirmed that he is a member of the Hong Kong government's Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers. He is also vice-chairman of the China Overseas Friendship Association.

Mr Daryl Ng, Ms Nikki Ng and Mr David Ng are the deputy chairman, a non-executive director and group associate director at Sino Group respectively. 

According to his online profiles, Mr Daryl Ng has been a member of the Sichuan Committee and Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPPCC, as well as a committee member of the All-China Youth Federation. 

Mr Robert Ng's eldest son is also the president of the Hong Kong United Youth Association and chairman of the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation. He previously served on the board of Singapore's National Heritage Board. 

Ms Nikki Ng has been a member of the Shanghai Committee of the CPPCC, according to her company profile. 

According to an online news article by Hong Kong-based newspaper Ta Kung Pao, Mr David Ng has been a member of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the CPPCC. 

This is the second time MHA has announced its intention to designate individuals under FICA provisions. The first person to be served this notice was Singaporean businessman Philip Chan Man Ping, who later received the designation on Feb 26, 2024. 

At the time of his designation, Mr Chan - who immigrated from Hong Kong and eventually became a Singapore citizen - was known to be associated with the CPPCC. He was also involved in grassroots and fundraising efforts in Singapore for over a decade.