WIVES OF SINGAPORE RESIDENTS (Admission from China)

Mr John Ede asked the Minister for Labour and Welfare whether he will supply the following information regarding the admission from China of wives of Singapore residents,

(a) the number of applications (i) approved and (ii) rejected during (i) 1953, (ii) 1954 and (iii) the first five months of 1955;

(b) the number of applications still outstanding which were first lodged during (i) July-December 1952, (ii) January-June 1953, (iii) July-December 1953 and (iv) January-June 1954; further whether he is aware of the grave mental hardship being caused to families whose applications are only approved after periods of as much as two years or more, and what steps he will take to remedy this unsatisfactory situation.

Mr Lim Yew Hock: (a) No. of applications Approved Rejected 1953 1,622 273 1954 1,741 456 1955 (January to May) 550 98 (b) Number of applications outstanding July-December 1952 400 January-June 1953 430 July-December 1953 530 January-June 1954 500 Figures given under (b) are approximate.

The Minister is aware of the hardship caused. Steps are being taken to obtain funds for the recruitment of temporary staff to clear up all outstanding applications as quickly as possible.