Tightened security as Chinese and Taiwanese presidents meet
The police are looking into a group of five Taiwanese in relation to the tightened security at Shangri-La Hotel, where a historic summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou was held.
This is after the police received information about the group, said its spokesman.
The five Taiwanese are currently assisting the police.
The spokesman said: "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.
"Foreigners in Singapore are reminded to comply with our laws and heed the directions of the Police and other officials. Those who break the law will be firmly dealt with."
Security operations around the summit, the first in more than 60 years between Chinese and Taiwanese leaders, were ramped up at Shangri-La Hotel.
The Four Seasons Hotel, where Mr Ma arrived at after alighting from his flight in the morning, also had an increased police presence.
High visibility patrols in red special operations command (SOC) vehicles were seen patrolling the route between the two hotels before the summit began.
Armed guards from the Gurkha Contingent and SOC were also spotted in the vicinity of both hotels.
The spokesman said: "Security measures, including vehicle and personnel check points, are in place to ensure the security of the event. Any disruption to the security operations will be dealt with in accordance with the law."
At the Shangri-La Hotel lobby, a large media scrum had already gathered at the hotel entrance just before the start of the summit at 3pm.
Curious onlookers, hotel guests and supporters of Mr Ma and Mr Xi also joined in the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of the two leaders.
They cheered and whipped out their mobile phones when Mr Ma walked into the hotel.
But not all were happy as the police asked some supporters to leave.
Taiwanese expatriate Sam Wu, 42, and his wife and son were escorted out of the building by plainclothes policemen after his wife unveiled a large Taiwanese flag in the hotel lobby.
Mr Wu, who works as a manager in Jurong Island, said: "We actually cycled all the way here from Jurong area and we thought that it would be nice to come by here to support Mr Ma.
"But the police stopped us when my wife took out the flag. They took down our particulars and told us that this is a restricted area."
A Singaporean, Mr Ong Eng Soon, 60, was also escorted out of the premises after he was seen distributing an envelope containing letters to the two leaders.
He told TNP: "The letters are just some of my thoughts about China and Taiwan.
"I thought I could pass those letters to Mr Xi and Mr Ma, but they were surrounded by guards."
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