RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
FM SINGAPORE
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 112
OF 05080OZ MARCH 90
HKD 340/1
RECEIVED IN
06 MAR 1990.
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
Action Take”
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
75
?
83
027732 MDLIAN 3683
YOUR TELNO 443 TO HONG KONG AND HONG KONG TELNO 799:
HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT: SINGAPORE
1. FURTHER TO HONG KONG TUR, YOU MAY WISH TO KNOW THAT MICHAEL LIM, GENERAL MANAGER OF SMC (HONG KONG), THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT -OWNED FIRM PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE HERE, WAS REPORTED ON 22 FEBRUARY TO HAVE TOLD THE STRAITS TIMES HONG KONG CORRESPONDENT THAT, GIVEN THE RATE AT WHICH APPLICATIONS FOR PERMANENT RESIDENT WERE BEING SUBMITTED AND APPROVED, HE ANTICIPATED THAT THE 25,000 LIMIT WOULD BE REACHED BY EARLY NEXT
YEAR.
2.
IT APPEARS THAT AFTER THE INITIAL RUSH FOR APPLICATION FORMS (WHEN 350,000 WERE GIVEN OUT IN THE MONTH FOLLOWING THE 10 JULY ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RELAXED EMIGRATION RULES) DEMAND FOR FORMS HAS STABILISED AT ABOUT 560 PER WEEK. THIS IS PARTLY DUE TO ACTION TAKEN BY SMC TO DISCOURAGE THOSE WHO CLEARLY HAVE NO HOPE
OF QUALIFYING UNDER THE SCHEME FROM SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS.
3. THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE HERE HAVE POINTED OUT THAT OF THE 8,605 HONG KONG CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN GRANTED APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE, MANY MAY ALSO BE EXPLORING OTHER POTENTIAL AVENUES OF EMIGRATION.
IF THEY DO THEREFORE DECIDE, IN DUE COURSE, TO LEAVE HONG KONG IT IS BY NO MEANS CERTAIN THEY WILL RESETTLE IN SINGAPORE.
4. A MAJOYLFACTOR DETERRING THOSE ACCEPTED UNDER THE SCHEME FROM RESETTLING IMMEDIATELY IS THE MUCH HIGHER SALARIES ON OFFER TO BLUE COLLAR WORKERS IN HONG KONG, WHERE THEY CAN EARN 30 TO 50 PER CENT MORE THAN IN SINGAPORE. ANOTHER DETERRED IS SAID TO BE SINGAPORE'S EDUCATION SYSTEM, WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON ENGLISH AND MANDARIN AND ITS EARLY AND RIGOROUS STREAMING OF PUPILS.
PIKE
YYYY