Nathan Law Kwun-chung was denied entry to Singapore last Saturday upon arrival from the United States. The Singapore government cited that his entry was “not in Singapore’s national interests.” Law, aged 32, was detained and questioned for 14 hours at Changi Airport before being deported on the earliest available flight back to San Francisco on Sunday.
Law, who is currently wanted by Hong Kong police, faces charges related to “inciting secession” and “colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security” under Hong Kong’s National Security Law. He left Hong Kong on June 27, 2020, following his involvement in the 2014 Umbrella Movement.
According to the *Financial Times*, Law was detained upon arrival in Singapore and had contact with British and U.S. authorities during the ordeal, though it remains unclear whether these governments engaged with Singapore on the matter. Law described the refusal of entry as “politically motivated” but stated he was “uncertain” whether external forces, such as China, were directly or indirectly involved.
Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that allowing Law, a prominent Hong Kong political activist wanted for alleged violations of the National Security Law, to enter the country was not in its interests. The ministry noted that authorities at Changi Airport refused his entry accordingly. Reports indicate Law was traveling on a British refugee travel document and intended to attend a forum in Singapore.
Despite a fugitive extradition agreement between Singapore and Hong Kong, Law told foreign media that he had obtained an entry visa and sought legal advice prior to his trip, believing the agreement did not cover political offenses and that Singapore had no intention of extraditing him to Hong Kong.