CIVIL SERVICE (Division I Officers)

Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Finance (a) how many Division I officers have been recruited since 1965; and (b) how many of the recruits were non-citizens and how many of them have been granted (i) permanent residence; and (ii) citizenship.

Mr Goh Chok Tong (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, again I am answering the question on behalf of the Minister for Finance.

The recruitment of Division I officers is no longer the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance as this function has been taken over by the Establishment Unit of the Prime Minister's Office. Nonetheless, the Minister for Finance has collated the necessary information from the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The available records maintained by the Public Service Commission show that between 1965 and 1979, 6,082 Division I officers were recruited. However, statistics on the nationality of the recruits are only available from 1973. The figures (from 1973 to 1979) are as follows:- Singapore citizens: 2,532 67% Permanent residents of Singapore: 68 1.8% Malaysian citizens: 886 23.5% Other citizens: 290 7.7% Total: 3,776 100 %

The available records at the Ministry of Home Affairs show that 302 Division I officers have acquired Singapore citizenship since 1965. The Ministry also introduced a scheme in 1967 whereby non-citizens recruited to the Civil Service are granted permanent residence. Since then, 990 Division I officers have been granted permanent residence under the scheme.