GOVERNMENT POLICY ON BIRTH CERTIFICATES (Request for statement)

Mr David Marshall asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether he will make a statement as to the Government's policy in respect of birth certificates which contain the names of the parents but not of the child and which are supported by Statutory Declarations with photographs identifying the child.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is presumed that the question is in connection with applications for Singapore citizenship and, if so, the position is as follows:

A birth certificate with the name of the parents but without the name of the child is acceptable as documentary evidence of the child's birth in Singapore if it is supported by a statutory declaration and other corroborative evidence; for example, School Leaving Certificate, Birth Certificates of brothers and sisters or vaccination notice or certificate.

The statutory declaration, whether or not a photograph of the child is affixed, should be made by a responsible person who is in a position to testify to the child's birth; for example, a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or an elder brother or sister who is at least seven years older than the child in question.