TAXI DRIVERS' LICENCES (English language requirement)

Mr Tan Soo Khoon asked the Minister for Communications and Information if he will ask the Registry of Vehicles to remove the English language proficiency requirement for applicants of taxi drivers' vocational licences.

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Mr Speaker, Sir, in Singapore's multi-racial society, simple conversational English is the common language for communication among people of different races. Therefore, it is necessary for taxi drivers, and also in their interest, to have a knowledge of simple conversational English. They will also find English useful for the many tourists who have to travel by taxi.

The test is very simple and consists of questions which taxi drivers are very likely to encounter from commuters. Most applicants for taxi drivers' vocational licences have no difficulty passing this test.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Sir, does the Minister realize that a section of our community are required to pass proficiency tests in two languages? I am referring to the Chinese taxi drivers. Would he consider removing the restriction or the requirement to pass the Mandarin proficiency test?

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Sir, the majority of our people are ethnic Chinese and there- fore having Mandarin permits easy communication among commuters and taxi drivers.