SINGAPORE: Singapore authorities have halved the
number of permanent residence passes granted in 2010, compared to
the year before.
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said 29,265 PR
passes were issued last year - a sharp drop from the 59,460 in 2009
and some 79,000 granted in 2008.
He added there has also been an improvement in the
quality of new PRs.
The number of new citizens remained relatively steady at 18,758 in
2010, compared to 19,928 for 2009.
Mr Wong, who heads the newly formed National Population and Talent
Division, revealed the numbers as he laid out the country's long
term strategy for managing population growth.
Speaking at the Singapore Perspectives 2011 conference, he said the
function of the new division is to formulate, coordinate and review
all of the government's policies related to population and
talent.
In doing so, he said the focus is on achieving a "sustainable
population profile".
Three principles will guide this effort - to preserve and uphold
what is distinctive and unique about Singapore, to ensure growth
and change benefit Singaporeans, and to remain nimble and prepared
as well as make adjustments along the way.
Mr Wong said what is unique about Singapore is that its people
"value hard work, thrift and honesty".
Singapore has also made multi-ethnic diversity work for it.
In managing the population, Mr Wong said the government will
"always be guided by the need to preserve a strong citizen core"
and to "maintain stability" in the ethnic mix.
To ensure that growth and change benefit Singaporeans, he
reiterated that citizens' interests will always come first.
However, he stressed the government will need to tap on immigration
to augment the population.
This is to ensure sufficient manpower for economic growth and to
mitigate the impact of an ageing population.
As Singapore is still facing the problem of having not enough
babies, Mr Wong said the government will continue to support
couples' decision to get married and have children.
He added authorities will aim for a pro-family environment but he
also acknowledged that boosting fertility will take time.
Preliminary estimates show that the country's total fertility rate
fell further to 1.16 in 2010 - even lower than the 1.22 recorded in
2009.
"Singapore's population story is still evolving. Looking ahead,
continual refinements will need to be made at appropriate junctures
to ensure that Singaproe will remain our best home. Like other
countries around the world, we must continue to welcome suitably
qualified people to work and live in Singapore and contribute to
our society," said Mr Wong.
-CNA/ac
