SINGAPORE — A Hong Kong resident who allegedly organised a public event here to discuss the protests in his city-state has had his passport impounded and is assisting police with their investigations into the matter.

In a Facebook post on Thursday (7 November), the police clarified that Alex Yeung is neither arrested nor in police custody and remains free to go about his activities in Singapore.

The police said they were alerted to an “incident” involving Yeung on 11 October. The alleged gathering was initially held at Kimoto Gastro Bar at The Sail @ Marina Bay but was later shifted to a public space in the vicinity of The Promontory at Marina Boulevard.

“The police would like to remind the public that organising or participating in a public assembly without a police permit in Singapore is illegal and constitutes an offence under the Public Order Act,” the post added.

“The police will not grant any permit for assemblies that advocate political causes of other countries. Foreigners visiting or living in Singapore should abide by our laws.”

On Thursday, Yeung shared on his Facebook page a YouTube video in which he called for viewers “not to politicise his current predicament”.

In the video, Yeung said in Cantonese, “This does not concern the Singapore government or China government. It concerns only me; a Hong Konger who broke a law in Singapore.”

He added that he is willing to take full responsibility for his actions and does not wish to harm the relationship between the two countries.

“I won't be asking the China embassy for help, as I don't want them to be in an awkward situation,” Yeung said. “If the Singapore police find after the investigation that I've broken the law, then I'll accept my punishment. If they find I'm innocent, then I'm grateful to them.”

Yeung is the founder of the Wah Kee chain of restaurants and known for his pro-China views. He has over 48,000 followers on the Weibo social platform and his YouTube channel also has over 150,000 subscribers.

In a post on his Weibo account on Monday, Yeung wrote that he would be in Singapore from 10 to 12 October to pursue business opportunities and to help fellow Hong Kong residents buy second homes in Singapore given the volatile situation in his home city.

Hong Kong has been plagued by months of unprecedented protests sparked by an extradition Bill that would have allowed people to be sent from the territory to mainland China for trial.

This has escalated into a broader backlash against the city government and its so-called “political masters” in Beijing.

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