Singapore has barred entry to Nathan Law, a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist living in exile in the United Kingdom, despite his possession of a valid visa. Authorities argued that his presence “would not be in the interest of national security.”
Law arrived in Singapore on Saturday to attend a closed, invitation-only conference, but was held at the border for four hours. He told the BBC that he was neither questioned nor given an explanation for the refusal.
The Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that Law is wanted by Hong Kong authorities on national security charges and noted that Singapore has an extradition treaty with Hong Kong.
“Mr. Law’s presence and entry into the country would not be in Singapore’s national interest,” a ministry spokesperson said. They clarified that a visa does not guarantee entry, as additional checks are conducted at border crossings.
After arriving, Law was subjected to security investigations and assessments before being denied entry. On Sunday, he flew back to San Francisco, where his journey had originally begun.
Singapore has long taken a strict stance against foreign political activities. Last year, its government reiterated that it would not allow the import of other nations’ political agendas into the city-state.
Law described the refusal as politically motivated and suggested that external powers, including China, may have directly or indirectly influenced the decision.
The activist explained that he had applied for a single-entry visa for a short stay, which was approved three weeks before the trip. He currently holds UK refugee documents after being granted asylum in 2021.
Nathan Law, a former Hong Kong legislator, is one of the most prominent figures in the city’s pro-democracy movement. He fled Hong Kong in 2020 after Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law, which criminalizes acts such as separatism, subversion, and terrorism, with penalties of up to life imprisonment.
Hong Kong authorities have offered bounties of up to 1 million HKD for information leading to the arrest of Law and other exiled activists.
