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Govt agencies looking into ‘Diao Yu Dao’ cafe

December 25th, 2012 | Author: Editorial

Last month, a reader by the name of Christina Yew wrote a letter to TR Emeritus (TRE) informing that

a cafe at Peace Centre was named “Diao Yu Dao” (see photo). The cafe inside blatantly displays a full wall of messages, graphics,

maps and photographs related to a group of islands in the East China Sea, whose ownership is currently in dispute between

Japan and China (‘Why is PRC propaganda allowed in Singapore?‘). The information on the wall includes a biased

(towards the Chinese) history of the islands and the ownership dispute. The messages, written in Chinese, are asking

for the return of “Diao Yu Dao”, the disputed islands, back to China.

Christina Yew’s letter was copied to SPF licensing, BCA, REACH and MSF.

Christina asked:

1) To SPF: Why did the SPF allow political propaganda to be displayed in public? Doesn’t the cafe need a license from the SPF?

2) To MCCY or MCI or MICA or MCYS or MDA or whatever media authority: Are you not concerned about the political propaganda?

3) To BCA (Signage department): Did you approve the “Diao Yu Dao” signboard and disregard its literary and political implication?

4) To Peace Centre, the building owner: Did you approve the renovation details of the cafe? If you did, what are the reasons for approving?

5) To Political Leaders: We remember our political leaders taking a neutral stand concerning the dispute of Diao Yu Dao. Yet, here we have

someone displaying an extreme political preference. Does it not undermine your integrity?

The mainstream media reported today (25 Dec) that the cafe has now come to the attention of at least three agencies:

Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore (ASAS), Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and the police.

The media reported that the cafe owners are believed to be a couple, both Chinese Singaporeans. According to the

Singapore Code of Advertising Practice, advertisements should not adopt or encourage a confrontational approach to

resolving societal conflicts or differences. Advertisements should not exploit or fuel conflicts relating to national problems

and controversial policies or issues. The police said a report had been lodged and they are “looking into the matter”.

An ACRA spokesman said the cafe was registered under the name Onion Restaurant and Bar Pte Ltd.

ACRA said the company was issuing invoices under the name “Diao Yu Dao”. This did not comply with a Companies’ Act

provision to use invoices with its registered name and registration number. However, ACRA said that the company has

since made changes to its invoices.

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