In response to queries from the media, it has come to the attention of Police that a group of foreign students plan to stage a protest outside the Shangri-La Hotel by standing in groups of four during the ASEAN Summit period. As they might not be aware of local laws, our community liaison officers from Queenstown NPC have contacted some of the organizers to advise them that what they are planning to do is in fact illegal and to advise them to apply for a permit to hold an indoor event so that they can give expression to their views.

Members of the public who choose to give expression to their political views or who wish to organize political activities are urged to do so through available avenues and lawful means. Indoor political forums by Singaporeans are exempt from the need to apply for any licence. Foreigners who wish to do so can apply for a licence from any Police station or on-line at www.spf.gov.sg/licence/index.html. Such licences have been granted in the past. Earlier this year, the Myanmese community had successfully applied for a police permit to hold an indoor forum at Peninsula Excelsior Hotel on 6 October 2007 , which was subsequently attended by some 400 persons. The Myanmese community also successfully applied for a police permit for an indoor forum which was held at Peninsula Excelsior Hotel on 17 Nov 2007 .

Police would like to remind members of the public that the area around Shangri-La and three other venues have been gazetted as Protected Areas. Any person engaging in activities which may compromise the security of the ASEAN Summit, including protesting, within the Protected Areas may be removed to ensure the safety and security of the Summit .

The details of the Protected Areas are as follows: