PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT PASSES (Particulars of applications)

Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Defence (a) how many non-citizens have applied for Professional Employment Passes from August, 1968, up to the latest convenient date; (b) how many applications were approved; and (c) the reasons for rejecting the other applications.

The Minister for Defence (Mr Lim Kim San): Mr Speaker, Sir, during the period August 1968 to November 1969, 7,051 applications were received from non-citizens for professional visit passes and employment passes. The number of applications included new applications and applications for extension. During the same period, 6,911 applications were approved. The number approved included some applications submitted before August 1968 and finalised after 1st August, 1968. A total of 508 applications were rejected during the same period. The rejections also included some applications submitted before August 1968 and finalised after 1st August, 1968.

The reasons for rejecting the applications are as follows:

(1) If local citizens with similar qualifications and experience were considered available to take over the jobs applied for.

(2) Applicants who were considered of little or no appreciable economic benefit to Singapore; and

(3) Security objections.