Singapore denies entry to exiled HK pro-democracy activist

A pro-democracy campaigner who fled Hong Kong said he was denied entry to Singapore even though he had been granted a visa.

Nathan Law, who lives in exile in the UK, said he arrived in Singapore on Saturday to attend a “closed-door, invitation-only” conference but was detained at the border for four hours.

“I was not asked questions and they did not give reason for the denial,” the 32-year-old told the BBC. In a separate statement, Mr Law said he believes it was for “political” reasons. “I am unsure whether external forces, such as the PRC (People’s Republic of China), are involved, directly or indirectly,” he said.

The BBC has reached out to Singapore’s immigration and home affairs offices.

The organisers of the event have declined to comment to the BBC.

Mr Law told the BBC he applied for a visa that would have allowed him a “one-time entry for a few days”, and that it was approved three weeks before his departure. He said he holds a UK Refugee Travel Document.

The activist said he was put on a flight back to San Francisco, where he initially departed from.

Mr Law, who is one of the most prominent figures in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, fled the city in 2020 after China imposed a sweeping national security law which targets secession, subversion and terrorism with punishments of up to life in prison.

In 2021, he was granted asylum in the UK.

Mr Law is wanted by the Hong Kong government which has accused him of endangering national security, and Singapore has an extradition treaty with Hong Kong.

Hong Kong authorities have offered rewards of HK$1m ($128,000; £95,000) for information that can help them arrest Mr Law and other pro-democracy activists.

This is not the first incident Singapore authorities have taken action regarding Hong Kong pro-democracy activists.

In 2019, the city-state fined a Singaporean activist for holding an online forum several years prior that featured prominent activist Joshua Wong speaking in a teleconference call.