APPLICATIONS BY WORK PERMIT HOLDERS TO CONTRACT MARRIAGE WITH SINGAPOREANS (Figures)

Mr Chew Heng Ching asked the Minister for Labour how many male and female work permit holders applied to contract marriage with Singaporeans in 1989, and how many applications have been approved.

The Minister for Labour (Mr Lee Yock Suan): Mr Speaker, Sir, in 1989, a total of 2,261 work permit holders comprising 466 males and 1,795 females applied to contract marriage with Singaporeans. A total of 1,441 applications were granted approval in 1989, comprising applications by 311 male and 1,130 female work permit holders. This total is equivalent to about two-thirds of the applications received during the year.

Mr Chew Heng Ching: Sir, would the Minister enlighten the House on the criteria for granting approval to these applications?

Mr Lee Yock Suan: Mr Speaker, Sir, we look mainly at the qualifications of the work permit holder, ie, whether he or she has skills or qualifications which are of use to Singapore. We also look at the total situation, eg, whether the intending spouse in Singapore is able to support the work permit holder.

As explained in Parliament last year, we have also adjusted the criteria to be consistent with the relaxation in the immigration policy for Hong Kong people. So long as the Singaporean spouses meet the same criteria we approve them on the same basis as the Hong Kong people.