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https://scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3038703/hong-kong-restaurateur-alex-yeung-sent-home-singapore-over Southeast Asia
Hong Kong restaurateur Alex Yeung sent home from Singapore over protests forum
- Yeung is known for his pro-establishment and pro-China views, which have made him deeply unpopular within Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp
- Singapore police warned ‘foreigners should not advocate their political causes, through public assemblies, and other prohibited means’
Yeung is known for his pro-establishment and pro-China views, which have made him deeply unpopular within Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp. Photo: YouTube
Hong Kong restaurateur Alex Yeung has been repatriated from Singapore after organising a public gathering without a permit for people to air their views on the ongoing unrest in Hong Kong.
The event was held in October, attracting ethnic Chinese Singapore residents to discuss the protests that have riven Hong Kong for five months, with no resolution in sight.
In Singapore, it is an offence to organise public assembly without a permit. Violations are punishable by a maximum jail term of six months and fines of as much as HK$57,600 (US$7,300).
On Wednesday, the Singapore Police Force said Yeung had been issued a stern warning and “will not be allowed to enter Singapore again in future without prior permission from the Controller of Immigration”.
“Singapore has always been clear that foreigners should not advocate their political causes, through public assemblies, and other prohibited means,” the police said. “The police investigated Mr Yeung’s case in accordance with our usual processes and in accordance with our laws.”
The police statement added that a 55-year old naturalised Singaporean had also been issued with a stern warning for facilitating the offence of organising a public assembly without a permit. Singapore newspaper The Straits Times reported that he was real estate businessman Philip Chan.
A former Hong Kong resident, Chan owns Kimoto Gastro Bar at The Sail @ Marina Bay, where the gathering was held, The Straits Times reported. He is the president of the Kowloon Club which helps new arrivals to Singapore integrate.
Yeung, 55, is the founder of the Wah Kee restaurant chain and known for his Wah Kee Positive Energy YouTube channel, which has about 150,000 subscribers.
Singapore has always been clear that foreigners should not advocate their political causes, through public assemblies
Yeung, who also owns a Japanese investment consultancy, is known for his pro-establishment and pro-China views, which have made him deeply unpopular within Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp. He has expressed strong support for the Hong Kong police and alleged students had been paid to attend anti-government protests.
Video footage from the October 11 event showed Yeung lambasting Hong Kong protesters for fighting for independence and threatening China’s sovereignty. He also criticised opposition leaders such as former lawmakers Albert Ho Chun-yan and Lee Cheuk-yan and retired Catholic cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun.
According to The Straits Times, Yeung led a chant in Cantonese, saying: “Support Hong Kong police, protect Hong Kong, justice will win.”