by Ganesh Sahathevan
Leading members of the Ng family of Singapore family that controls the Fullerton Hotel that is located within the Martin Place GPO have been designated 'politically significant persons' under Singapore's foreign interference law given Communist Party China links . Australia has similar laws , but the Australian authorities remain silent.
Roger Ng and his children who control Sino Group declared, on the opening of the Fullerton Sydney:
'We are excited to open The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, housed in an icon steeped in history and dear to the Sydney community, it weaves the past and present together. Our vision for the 416-room hotel is simple: to deliver a unique, exquisite hotel that is synonymous with warm hospitality and one-of-a-kind flair to make guests' stays more memorable. We seek to provide guests and visitors with signature services as they create their own memories, while showcasing the beauty and heritage of the former Sydney GPO building to a wider audience nationally and globally,' remarks Mr Daryl Ng, Deputy Chairman of Sino Group.
Australia established a Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme in 2019 but little seems to have been done to enforce the Scheme.
Singapore tycoon Robert Ng, 3 children to be designated 'politically significant persons' under foreign interference law over links to China body
The property billionaire and his children - all Singaporeans - hold positions in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, or CPPCC.
(Clockwise from top left) Robert Ng Chee Siong, Daryl Ng Win Kong, David Ng Win Loong and Nikki Ng Mien Hua. (Images: Temasek, LinkedIn/Daryl Ng, David Ng, Nikki Ng)
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Ang Hwee Min
07 Apr 2025 06:00PM(Updated: 07 Apr 2025 07:16PM)
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SINGAPORE: Four members of one of Singapore's richest families will be designated as "politically significant persons" under a law to counter foreign interference, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Monday (Apr 7).
Sino Group chairman Robert Ng and three of his children – Mr Daryl Ng, Ms Nikki Ng and Mr David Ng – declared to the Registry of Foreign and Political Disclosures in 2024 that they were members of a foreign legislature or foreign political organisation.
Based on their memberships, the registrar assessed that they should be designated as "politically significant persons" under Section 48(1) of the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act, or FICA.
Enacted in 2021, the law contains "countermeasures to prevent, detect and disrupt foreign interference in (Singapore's) domestic politics", according to MHA.
Checks by CNA showed that the four individuals hold positions in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body.
Unlike the National People’s Congress, the CPPCC has no lawmaking powers, but its suggestions can influence policymaking.
Mr Ng and his children were served notices on Apr 7, said MHA. 
"To be clear, the intended designations of the four individuals are not because they have engaged in any egregious activity," the ministry said in a press release.
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Mr Robert Ng and his children declared their involvement shortly before Mar 1, 2024, which was the deadline for Singapore citizens to declare their memberships with foreign legislatures or foreign political organisations.
Singaporeans who were already members before Feb 1, 2024, had to do so by Mar 1 that year.
"We took some time to carefully assess the declarations thereafter, to determine if they crossed the thresholds for designation," said MHA in response to CNA queries.
"Politically significant persons" can include political parties, political office holders, Members of Parliament, election candidates and their election agents.
As a designated politically significant person, they must disclose to the registrar annually political donations of S$10,000 (US$7,400) or more that they receive and accept. They also have to disclose their foreign affiliations and migration benefits.
As of Mar 31, seven Singaporeans have declared their memberships in foreign legislatures or foreign political organisations, MHA said.
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Of the seven individuals who made declarations, the ministry has only issued the notices to the four members of the Ng family, it added.
Mr Robert Ng, 72, is chairman of Sino Group, one of Hong Kong’s leading property developers with interests in residential, commercial, hospitality and retail real estate.
He is the eldest son of the late tycoon Ng Teng Fong and, together with his brother Philip Ng, controls Far East Organization - Singapore’s largest private property developer and landlord.
CPPCC POSITIONS
According to his profile on Sino Group's website, he has been a member of the National Committee of the CPPCC, serving as deputy director of the committee for economic affairs.
A press release by the Hong Kong government dated Mar 17, 2023, confirmed that he is a member of the Hong Kong government's Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers. He is also vice-chairman of the China Overseas Friendship Association.
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Mr Daryl Ng, Ms Nikki Ng and Mr David Ng are the deputy chairman, a non-executive director and group associate director at Sino Group respectively.
According to his online profiles, Mr Daryl Ng has been a member of the Sichuan Committee and Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPPCC, as well as a committee member of the All-China Youth Federation.
Mr Robert Ng's eldest son is also the president of the Hong Kong United Youth Association and chairman of the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation. He previously served on the board of Singapore's National Heritage Board.
Ms Nikki Ng has been a member of the Shanghai Committee of the CPPCC, according to her company profile.
According to an online news article by Hong Kong-based newspaper Ta Kung Pao, Mr David Ng has been a member of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the CPPCC.
This is the second time MHA has announced its intention to designate individuals under FICA provisions. The first person to be served this notice was Singaporean businessman Philip Chan Man Ping, who later received the designation on Feb 26, 2024.
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At the time of his designation, Mr Chan - who immigrated from Hong Kong and eventually became a Singapore citizen - was known to be associated with the CPPCC. He was also involved in grassroots and fundraising efforts in Singapore for over a decade.
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