A pro-democracy campaigner who fled Hong Kong has been denied entry to Singapore despite being granted a visa, with the city-state saying his presence would not be in national interests.
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, he told the BBC.
Mr Law is wanted by Hong Kong authorities who have accused him of endangering national security, Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs noted.
Singapore has an extradition treaty with Hong Kong.
Mr Law's entry into and presence in the country would not be in Singapore's national interests, said the ministry's spokesman in response to queries from the BBC.
A visa holder is still subject to further checks at point of entry into the country. That is what happened with Nathan Law, he said, adding that Mr Law was referred for questioning, and immigration and security assessment after he landed.
Singapore is known to be cautious about foreign politics. In a statement issued last year, the government said it takes a clear and strong stand against the importation of politics of other countries into Singapore.
In a statement, Mr Law said he believes the denial of entry 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.
Mr Law, a former Hong Kong legislator, had 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. Last year, he was granted asylum in the UK.
The incident highlights Singapore's ongoing vigilance against the influence of Hong Kong's political situation on its own national policies, especially concerning pro-democracy activists.
