This archive report was first published on 8 November 2019.
Published on November 8, 2019, Singapore's elite are growing increasingly anxious about the unrest in rival financial hub Hong Kong, with concerns that it could inspire demonstrations in the tightly controlled city-state.
Alex Yeung, a restaurateur known for his anti-protest rants on YouTube, allegedly organized a gathering last month that started in a bar and shifted to a public area, according to police.
Footage circulating online showed Yeung at a Singapore bar with approximately two dozen people, criticizing the protesters and Hong Kong pro-democracy figures.
Organizing a public assembly without a permit in Singapore is punishable by a fine of up to SGD 5,000 (USD 3,700). Repeat offenders can face even harsher penalties, including fines of up to SGD 10,000 or a maximum six-month jail sentence, or both.
The police have stated that they will not grant permits for assemblies that advocate for political causes of other countries, and that foreigners visiting or living in Singapore should abide by local laws.
Yeung's passport has been confiscated while he assists in investigations, but he has not been arrested.
Singapore only allows protests without a police permit in a small corner of one downtown park.
Yeung claimed in a video posted on Monday that he came to Singapore to explore business opportunities and accused supporters of the protests of setting him up at the gathering.
"I never thought I would violate any laws in Singapore and I never thought to engage in political activities," he said. His lawyer stated that he is cooperating with police.
Hong Kong has been shaken by five months of increasingly violent demonstrations, with protesters calling for greater democratic freedoms and police accountability.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned last month that Singapore would be "finished" if similar protests erupted there.
