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Asia Research--General Info on Singapore n.d. [OA 7566] [5]
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Asia Research--General Info on Singapore n.d. [OA 7566] [5]
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S; 2004-2265-S
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Backup Files
Subseries:
Chron File, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13792
Folder ID Number:
13792-010
Folder Title:
Asia Research--General Info on Singapore n.d. [OA 7566][5]
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2
3
Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
(George Bush Library)
Doc. No. / Type
Subject/Title
Date
Restriction
Classification
01. Memo
Jim Keith to Tony Snow, Re: New PM Keating. (1 pp.)
n.d.
(b)(1)
C
Page 1 of 1
Collection:
Record Group:
Bush Presidential Records
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WHORM Cat.:
File Location:
Asia Research - General Info on Singapore [n.d.]
Pinksheet Number:
RML1662
OA/ID Number:
13792-010
Date Closed:
11/15/2004
FOIA/Sys Case #:
S
Re-review Case #:
2004-2265-S
P-2/P-5 Review Case #:
Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
(George Bush Library)
Document No.
Subject/Title of Document
Date
Restriction
Class.
and Type
01. Memo
Jim Keith to Tony Snow, Re: New PM Keating. (1 pp.)
n.d.
(b)(1)
C
Collection:
Record Group:
Bush Presidential Records
Office:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File, Backup
Subseries:
WHORM Cat.:
File Location:
Asia Research - General Info on Singapore [n.d.]
Date Closed:
11/15/2004
OA/ID Number:
13792-010
FOIA/SYS Case #:
S
Appeal Case #:
Re-review Case #:
2004-2265-S
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AR Case #:
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RESTRICTION CODES
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
Deed of Gift Restrictions
(b)(1) National security classified information
C(1) Closed by Executive Order 13526, governing access to national
(b)(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an
security information
agency
C(2) Closed by statute or by the agency which originated the information
(b)(3) Release would violate a Federal statute
C(3) Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of
(b)(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
gift [formerly listed as only C]
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PRM. Removed as a personal record misfile
(b)(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion
of personal privacy
(b)(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
Presidential Records Act - 144 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
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(b)(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
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P-5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President and
(b)(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
his advisors, or between such advisors [(a)(5) of the PRA]
concerning wells
CONF IDENTIAL
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
19-Nov-1991 06:40 EDT
MEMORANDUM FOR:
KEITH@OEOB@MRGATE
FROM:
VMSMail User RAGLE
(RAGLE@OEOB@MRGATE)
SUBJECT:
GESCAN
<CLAS> CONFIDENTIAL<DTG> 190605Z NOV 91
<ORIG>FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
<SUBJ>AUSTRALIA - KEATING ON US RELATIONS, GULF WAR
<TEXT>
C 0 N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CANBERRA 08881
DEPT ALSO FOR INR/EAP/SEA JOHN KELLEY
CINCPAC ALSO FOR FPA
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV, PREL EMIN, MARR, AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA - KEATING ON US RELATIONS, GULF WAR
REF: (A) CANBERRA 8784 (150446Z NOV 91) (NOTAL)
-
(B) CANBERRA 4033 (040214Z JUN 91)
1. & - ENTIRE TEXT.
~BEGIN SUMMARY~
2. SUMMARY: PRIME MINISTERIAL ASPIRANT KEATING AIMS
FOR AUSTRALIA TO CONTINUE AS A RELIABLE ALLY OF THE
U.S., THOUGH HE WANTS TO CONCENTRATE ON AUSTRALIA'S
OWN REGION. HE SAID HE WOULD LIKE THE U.S. TO
REASSERT ITS WORLD LEADERSHIP BUT THAT WASHINGTON
NEEDED TO GET ITS ECONOMIC HOUSE IN ORDER. DRAWING A
DISTINCTION WITH THE WAY HE SAID PM HAWKE OPERATES,
KEATING SAID HE AS PM WOULD BE RECEPTIVE TO
WASHINGTON REQUESTS BUT WOULD CONSIDER AUSTRALIA'S
INTERESTS BEFORE RESPONDING. HE ALSO GAVE HIS
VERSION OF AUSTRALIA'S DECISION TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE
GULF WAR, AND EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE ANTI-MINING
ANTARCTICA TREATY. END SUMMARY.
~END SUMMARY~
AUSTRALIA'S REGIONAL FOCUS
DECLASSIFIED
3. DURING A NOV. 12 COURTESY CALL BY DCM AND LABATT PER DOS WAIVER, November 6, 2015
ON PM-ASPIRANT AND FORMER TREASURER PAUL KEATING,
By It NARA, Date 06/07/23
WHICH DEALT MOSTLY WITH HIS CHALLENGE OF BOB HAWKE'S
LEADERSHIP (REF A), WE SOUGHT KEATING'S VIEWS ON THE
FUTURE OF AUSTRALIAN-U.S. RELATIONS. HE OBSERVED
THAT AUSTRALIA WOULD NOT BE IMPORTANT TO THE U.S.
UNLESS IT WERE IMPORTANT IN ITS OWN PART OF THE
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
WORLD. THEREFORE, AUSTRALIA SHOULD FOCUS ON THE
ASIA/PACIFIC REGION, IN PARTICULAR ON NEW ZEALAND AND
INDONESIA, WHERE, REFERRING TO THE LATTER, HE SAID
AUSTRALIA NEEDED TO DO MORE. KEATING CHARACTERIZED
PAPUA NEW GUINEA AS UNTABLE AND "A WORRY FOR US,"
RECALLING THAT HEAD-HUNTING WAS STILL BEING PRACTICED
THERE IN THE 1970'S. AUSTRALIA ALSO HAD TO "FIND A
ROLE" WITH JAPAN; IN HIS VIEW, AUSTRALIA IS NOW ONLY
A SOURCE OF RAW MATERIALS FOR JAPAN, THOUGH TOKYO IS
TAKING MORE NOTICE OF AUSTRALIA.
TIES TO THE U.S. WILL REMAIN SOLID
4. KEATING SAID BILATERAL RELATIONS WOULD REMAIN
GOOD BECAUSE THE TWO COUNTRIES ENJOYED A "SPECIAL
RELATIONSHIP" BASED ON SIMILAR CULTURES AND A COMMON
LANGUAGE. AMERICAN TV PROGRAMS HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON
AUSTRALIA. HOWEVER, HE NOTED, THE SPECIAL
RELATIONSHIP ONLY WENT SO FAR -- IT WOULD NOT HELP
AUSTRALIA GET PREFERENCE IN AREAS LIKE GRAIN
EXPORTS. HE DOWNPLAYED AUSTRALIA'S IMPORTANCE TO THE
U.S., CALLING THE JOINT FACILITIES A "BIT OF A JOKE"
SINCE THEY WERE HERE BECAUSE AUSTRALIA WAS IN THE
RIGHT PLACE. DCM DEMURRED.
5. THE MAJOR PROBLEM, KEATING OPINED, WAS WEAK U.S.
ECONOMIC POLICY SINCE 1982 AND, IN PARTICULAR, A
SENSE OF DEFEATISM WITHIN AMERICAN INDUSTRY FACING
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, E.G., GM AND FORD.
KEATING SAID HE WAS NOSTALGIC FOR THE PERIOD OF "U.S.
GREATNESS" AND WANTED THE U.S. TO TAKE CONTROL AGAIN
IN WORLD AFFAIRS. HE ADDED THAT AUSTRALIA WANTED ITS
ALLY "TO DO BETTER RATHER THAN SLIP DOWN THE POLE."
AUSTRALIA AND THE GULF WAR
C 0 N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 CANBERRA 08881
DEPT ALSO FOR INR/EAP/SEA - JOHN KELLEY
CINCPAC ALSO FOR FPA
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV, PREL EMIN, MARR, AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA - KEATING ON US RELATIONS, GULF WAR
6. KEATING ELABORATED ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT HE MADE
IMMEDIATELY BEFORE HIS JUNE 3 EFFORT TO OUST PM HAWKE
AS ALP LEADER (REF B), TO THE EFFECT THAT HE WOULD
NOT "SPRING TO ATTENTION THE MOMENT AN AMERICAN
PRESIDENT PICKS UP THE PHONE." (KEATING HAD BEEN
CRITICIZING HAWKE FOR DOING VIRTUALLY THAT.) HE TOLD
US THAT HAWKE'S "OBSEQUIOUS BEHAVIOR (TOWARD
PRESIDENT BUSH) WAS APPALLING, " ADDING LATER THAT HE
RESENTED "OVERT OBSEQUIOUSNESS NOT BACKED BY
COMMENSURATE STRENGTH."
7. KEATING COMMENTED THAT IT WAS FORMER DEFMIN KIM
BEAZLEY AND HIMSELF WHO "HAD REALLY KEPT WATCH ON THE
U.S. RELATIONSHIP." GETTING MORE SPECIFIC, HE ADDED
CONFIDENTIAL
THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF BUSH'S REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE
IN THE GULF WAR, IF HE HAD BEEN PM, HE WOULD FIRST
HAVE ASKED THE PRESIDENT WHAT OTHERS LIKE CANADA (A
NATO ALLY WITH A LONG BORDER WITH THE U.S.) WERE
DOING. HE AVERRED THAT AUSTRALIA SHOULD NOT HAVE
AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IF OTTAWA WERE, FOR INSTANCE,
STILL SELLING WHEAT TO IRAQ.
8. KEATING DETAILED THE MEETING AT WHICH AUSTRALIA'S
PRIMARY GULF WAR PARTICIPATION WAS DETERMINED.
PRESENT WERE PM HAWKE; DEPUTY PM KEATING; FONMIN
GARETH EVANS; DEFMIN ROBERT RAY; AND MINISTER FOR
INDUSTRY, TECHNOLOGY AND COMMERCE AND GOVERNMENT
LEADER IN THE SENATE JOHN BUTTON. KEATING CALLED IT
A "TYPICAL 'BOB' MEETING," ONE IN WHICH THE PM SAYS
NOTHING UNTIL HE SEES THE WAY OPINION IS GOING.
KEATING SAID HE DELIBERATELY TRIED NOT TO COMMIT
HIMSELF TO SEE WHAT HAWKE WOULD DO. EVANS ARGUED,
WITHOUT ACTUALLY SAYING so, FOR MOVING FOUR
AUSTRALIAN WARSHIPS INTO THE PERSIAN GULF. RAY
FAVORED SENDING F-18 AIRCRAFT, NOT WARSHIPS. BUTTON
OPPOSED HELPING AT ALL BECAUSE OF RESENTMENT OVER
U.S. EEP-SUBSIDIZED SALES.
9. THERE FOLLOWED A LONG PAUSE WHILE HAWKE WAITED
FOR KEATING TO SAY SOMETHING AND KEATING TRIED TO
AVOID COMMITTING HIMSELF BEFORE HAWKE SPOKE. KEATING
SAID HAWKE KEPT HIS HEAD DOWN, LOOKING AT THE PEANUT
DISH ON THE TABLE, REFUSING TO SAY ANYTHING, AND
STUDIOUSLY EXAMINING EVERY PEANUT. FINALLY, KEATING
SAID HE ASKED RHETORICALLY, "SHOULD THE REAL LEADER
TELL US WHAT TO DO?" AND THEN STATED HIS VIEW THAT
AUSTRALIA SHOULD SEND NO PLANES AND TWO SHIPS, BUT
THE SHIPS SHOULD MOVE INTO THE PERSIAN GULF AND NOT
STAY OUT IN THE ARABIAN SEA. HAWKE, PER KEATING,
BREATHED A GREAT SIGH OF RELIEF, AS KEATING EXPLAINED
THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH DOMESTIC SUPPORT TO SEND
MORE THAN 2 SHIPS, BUT THOSE SHIPS SHOULD ACTIVELY
PARTICIPATE IN THE WAR EFFORT. (KEATING RECALLED FOR
US THAT THE AUSTRALIAN SHIPS WERE U.S. -BUILT AND
FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH THE USN IN THE GULF.) AT THIS
POINT, BUTTON SHIFTED TO SUPPORT KEATING'S POSITION.
(NOTE: KEATING'S SELF-SERVING ACCOUNT DOES CLARIFY
HIS JUNE 3 COMMENT (REPORTED REF B) TO THEN-EMBASSY
POLCOUNS THAT HE WAS "THE ONE WHO DECIDED TO SEND THE
SHIPS INTO THE GULF." END NOTE)
ANTARCTICA
10. KEATING SAID HE SUPPORTED THE 50-YEAR BAN ON
MINING IN ANTARCTICA BECAUSE OTHERWISE ANTARCTICA
WOULD HAVE BEEN RUINED AND BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT
ANOTHER "RESOURCE CONTINENT" THAT WOULD COMPETE WITH
AUSTRALIA.
COMMENT
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 03 OF 03 CANBERRA 08881
DEPT ALSO FOR INR/EAP/SEA JOHN KELLEY
CINCPAC ALSO FOR FPA
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV, PREL EMIN, MARR, AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA - KEATING ON US RELATIONS, GULF WAR
11. KEATING'S SELF-AGGRANDIZING COMMENTS ABOVE
NOTWITHSTANDING, WE DO NOT BELIEVE HE HAS PLAYED A
CENTRAL ROLE IN THE FORMULATION OF AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE
AND FOREIGN POLICY DURING THE HAWKE YEARS. BY FAR,
THE THREE MOST INFLUENTIAL PLAYERS HAVE BEEN HAWKE,
EVANS AND FORMER DEFMIN BEAZLEY. WE TAKE KEATING'S
EXPRESSIONS OF FUNDAMENTAL SUPPORT FOR THE
AUSTRALIAN-U.S. TIE AT FACE VALUE, BUT WE ALSO NOTE
THAT HE HAS SEEN POLITICAL ADVANTAGE IN DISTANCING
HIMSELF FROM BOB HAWKE'S WARM EMBRACE OF THE AMERICAN
CONNECTION. KEATING'S TRACK RECORD SO FAR INDICATES
HE WOULD BE A RELIABLE FRIEND AND ALLY BUT WITH A
LITTLE MORE SPACE BETWEEN THE TWO OF US. END
COMMENT SEMBLER##
<SECT>SECTION: 01 OF 03
<SECT>SECTION: 02 OF 03
<SECT>SECTION: 03 OF 03
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
December 9, 1991
FOR TONY SNOW
FROM TORKEL PATERSON
I hope the attached materials can get
you started with some of the trade themes.
Paul Blustein's piece in the Post is the
right angle and contrasts correctly with
Songus' piece in the Times. We need to
encourage U.S. business to be players in
the region.
ID:202-289-0519
DEC 06'91
15:38 No.007 P.02
US
ASEAN
U.S.-ASEAN COUNCIL 1400 L Street, N.W.
for Business and
Suite 650
Technology, Inc.
Washington, D.C. 20005
202-289-1911
Fax: 202-289-0519
ASEAN: A MAJOR U.S. MARKET
The Rich and Growing ASEAN Market
ASEAN Population
-
320 million
ASEAN Nominal GDP
-
more than US$300 billion in 1990
ASEAN GDP Growth
-
average growth rates of 7% over the past 10 years
ASEAN Imports
-
more than US$155 billion in 1990
A Major U.S. Export Market
ASEAN is the third largest overseas market for U.S. exports after Japan and the E.C.
(fifth largest market if border trade with Canada and Mexico is included).
U.S. exports grew 47% during 1989 and 1990, and 63% for the three years,
including 1991.
Our exports to ASEAN were close to US$19 billion in 1990, and are projected to
reach US$21 billion in 1991.
At the US$21 billion level, our exports to ASEAN would account for 400,000 jobs in
the U.S.
Hi-tech items dominate U.S. exports. They include electronic components, aircraft
and parts, office and automated data processing machines.
Growing Investment Opportunities
The U.S. investment position in ASEAN reached US$12.3 billion in 1990, up 21.6%
from the 1989 level.
U.S. investment in Singapore surged 71% in 1990
U.S. investment by sector: petroleum (42.2%)
manufacturing (37.4%)
others (20.4%)
EH\BUSH\STATS.BUS
12/4/91
DEC 6 '91 16:07
202 289 0519 PAGE.002
In his Asia trip, the President will visit countries representing
three of our top four overseas export markets. Singapore is our
largest trade partner in ASEAN which is our third largest overseas
export market. Korea is our no. 4 market, and Japan is no. 2 after
the EC. These are growing markets. U.S. exports to ASEAN are up
about 60 percent in the past three years, Korea 40 percent, and
Japan 30 percent.
American exports equals jobs for Americans. ASEAN, Korea and Japan
together account for over 1. 7 million U.S. jobs (US$86 billion in
U.S. exports X 20,000 jobs per billion of exports = 1.726 million
jobs).
Lean how to do things
we better
MARUS
GOREMNY
GALVINSON
STIMPLE
YORK TIMES THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1991 PG D1 & D22
Power of the Yen Winning Asia
In their more candid moments, Japanese
to keep the Imperial empire afloat, and prom-
officials say that how they harness Asia's
ised liberation from "ruthless exploitation by
New 'Co-Prosperity'
talent and energy in the next few years may
the United States and Britain."
ultimately determine whether, In the early
Today Mitsubishi, Toyota and Mitsui seek
part of the next century, Japan's economy
liberation from the expense of doing business
Is Displacing U.S.
overtakes that of the United States. For
in Japan and promise to bring VCR's and
them, Asia is the critical cog in the machine,
Japanese fashions to a rising generation of
a cure for Japan's shortage of talented labor
Asian consumers. And this time, the Japa-
and Inexpensive land, a way to free up Ja-
nese have kept explicit political Ideology out
By DAVID E. SANGER
pan's resources for more profitable, re-
of the equation, substituting the highly prag-
search-oriented work at home.
matic, pro-business formulas that implicitly
For Japan, investing in Asia has been an
promise to make other Asian countries more
Special to The New York Times
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia
enonmously profitable strategy, not only by
like Japan.
manufacturing there but by selling there.
That has given Japan a political Influence
The day that most Americans re-
Japanese argue that their efforts have
in the region that is hard to define, yet
member as a day of infamy resonates
helped Asia too, fueling the double-digit
universally felt. In Kuala Lumpur, for exam-
very differently in Asia. Here, Pearl
growth that swept many of its hard-driving
ple, virtually everyone acknowledges that
Harbor is regarded as a sideshow to
economies through much of the 80's. Only
one of the most influential behind-the-scenes
Japan's real ambitions in World War
recently have those rates slowed to growth
power brokers is the longtime head of the
II - the creation of a "Greater East
rates of 6 to 9 percent a year, at a time much
Mitsui trading company office, Kazumasa
Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere," an eco-
of the rest of the world economy is stagnant.
Suzuki. In Thailand, the military Govern-
nomic and military empire that
The most remarkable change wrought by
ment has made it clear that the No. 1 concern
stretched from the coal mines of
the Japanese is what they have built over the
of Japanese Investors, rapidly improving a
Manchuria to the oilfields of Indo-
last six years - at a cost of more than $25
network of roads and telephones that Is col-
nesia.
billion, three times what the United States
lapsing under the strain of development, has
Fifty years later, in radically dif-
has spent in the same period. Piece by piece,
also become the Government's top priority.
ferent form and with very different
corporate Japan has created a startling rep-
"They have a forceful, one-dimensional
lica of itself, not only in look and feel but also
approach to developing Asia's economies,"
In culture. As a result, a region that only 15
Paul Cleveland, the American Ambassador
50 Years Later
years ago was seen by the United States as on
to Malaysia, said of Japan's approach. "Lat-
the brink of falling to Communism has in-
er on, as a great nation and people, I'm sure
stead embraced a decidedly capitalist model
the Japanese harbor other designs. But right
Last of three articles:
but capitalism Japanese-style.
now, they may not know what they are."
Asian Quest
The shift is most vivid inside the giant
Other factors have paved the way for
factories of the Matsushita Electric Industri-
Japanese-style capitalism. For example, al-
al Company here. The company's operations
most all of the countries pursuing the Japa-
account for more than 3 percent of Malay-
nese model are run by authoritarian-leaning
purposes, the co-prosperity sphere
sid's gross national product. Every morning,
governments that openly admire the 35 years
lives on. Over the last decade, while
17,000 Malaysian workers pour through the
of single-party rule by Japan's ruling Liberal
America's attention was elsewhere,
gates wearing uniforms nearly identical to
Democratic Party. Many consider that sta-
Japan has poured billions of dollars
those at Matsushita's headquarters in Osaka.
bility essential to staying focused on econom-
and enormous energy into the region,
They the day by singing the Matsushita
Ic development.
building car factories and electronics
song - in Malay - and spend 45 minutes
Wartime antagonisms do still run high in
plants here on the edge of the Malay-
discussing Japanese-style manufacturing
some of these countries, especially in places
sian jungle, employing thousands in
techniques with their managers before head-
like Singapore; where 130,000 Chinese were
the Thai countryside and erecting gl-
Ink to their posts on sparkling, highly auto-
killed as Japanese forces swept down the
ant shopping centers and office
mated production lines.
Malay peninsula and captured the city in the
towers in Hong Kong and Singapore.
The Japanese love it. "In some ways It is
winter of 1941-42. In Korea, a Japanese colo-
better than operating in the U.S.," says Tada-
ny for 40 years and today Japan's biggest.
As Japan has turned Asia into its
sht Akita, the head of Matsushita's opera-
Asian manufacturing rival, enmity for the
manufacturing and merchandising
tions here and a veteran of the company's
Japanese often bubbles to the surface in
backyard, it has ever so gradually
plants in North America. "Now, we can buy
conversations, especially when the subject
begun to displace the United States as
niest of our parts here. The quality is high."
turns to how Japan has cut South Korea off
the most politically influential power
And because the cultural gap between
from new, Japanese-developed technology.
in the region. This time, the Japanese
teacher and student seems narrower than it
Elsewhere, though, a desire to build new
insist, the outcome will be real co-
does when Japan builds factories in the West,
bridges to Japan is quickly softening war-
prosperity, with the power of the yen,
time memories. Thai officials now frequently
"the workers are easy to train," Mr. Akita
not the military, bringing Asia into its
point out that Thailand was allied with Japan
saich
own.
during the war, something that was Impolitic
With surprisingly little trepidation,
Seeking Future
to mention just a few years ago. Japanese in
Southeast Asians have welcomed Ja-
Malaysia contend that older residents have
With Other Asians
thanked them for the Japanese Invasion.
pan's return, concluding that the road
"They say It triggered the postwar Independ-
to industrialization, or at least to cap-
Matsushita is here largely because the
ence movement" from Britain, Mr. Akita
ital and technology, now starts in
Prime Minister, Mahethir Mohamad, has
noted recently.
Tokyo. Certainly deep bitterness re-
explicitly urged his people for the last decade
At the same time, there is a constant worry
mains: Emperor Akihito and Japan's
to: look East," and find Asia's future with
about Japan's ultimate Intentions. The Singa-
political leaders still cannot arrive
other Asians, meaning the Japanese. Mr.
pore Defense Minister, commenting on a
anywhere in Asia without apologizing
Mahathir has spent most of the year pressing
plan under consideration in Japan's Parlia-
and promising that Japan will never
a plan for a new economic grouping that
ment to allow the Japanese military to join
again seek new territory. Tellingly,
excludes non-Asians. Japan, torn between its
United Nations peacekeeping forces, warned
Asian identity and Its Western interests,
that Japan has the technology and power to
even a debate now under way in the
would be the linchpin, and so far it has sided
"transform overnight into a military power
Japanese Parliament over an apol-
with the United States in trying to bury the
ogy for the suffering caused during
of the highest order." Singapore has led the
idea.
calls for the United States to remain a major
Like their counterparts in Singapore and
military presence In the region.
World War II Is aimed more at Asia than at
Seoul, Malaysia's planners have closely cop-
"There is no country in Asia that would
the United States.
led Tokyo's strategy of "targeting" strategic
welcome us," a senior Japanese diplomat in
But whatever fears Asia has of a resurgent
Industries, financing major projects in autos
Tokyo said the other day, "If the U.S.-Japan
Japan are overwhelmed by a growing convic-
and electronics, exporting flercely and pro-
relationship was not maintained. With our
tion that Japan's studiously non-ideological
tecting infant industries.
past and our size, they would be too scared."
pragmatism should be the archetype for
"What we most want to emulate is the
much of the rest of Asia.
Japanese work ethic, the sense of loyalty to
think there is a sense in Southeast Asia
the country and the company," said Moha-
Is America's
that the Americans kicked themselves out,'
mad Rusli, one of Malaysia's economic plan-
said Takakazu Kuriyama, who recently re-
ners. "Japan's experience of rebuilding after
Mind Elsewhere?
tired as Japan's deputy foreign minister and
the war, the way it got workers and manage-
served in the mid-80's as ambassador to
ment to cooperate and got the economy to
But America's presence Is not solely mill-
Malaysia. "In the 60's and 70's the United
grow in leaps and bounds, seems very Asian
tary. Singapore, for example, remains a lead-
States understood its strategic Interests in
to us. It has much more relevance to our
ing outpost of American companies, from
the area. But it is not clear now that it always
society than the experience of the West."
Apple to A.T.&T., and there are American
understands Its economic interests.'
Without question, the new co-prosperity
success stories in every country. Exxon and
Tetravel through Southeast Asia today is
sphere is very different from the old. The
other oil companies continue to Invest heav-
to hear government officials and Industrial
Japanese who landed in Dutch-controlled
ily in drilling projects; Intel and Motorola
leatters talk enthusiastically about their one-
Indonesia, the Philippines and the old British
have expanded their electronics operations;
time Invader as their teacher and financier.
colony of Malaya 50 years ago had to fight
Asia is one of the few bright spots for I.B.M.
In contrast, the United States is often de-
their way off the beaches. Today they are
these days. American companies are courted
scribed as the region's absentee ally, a con-
feted the way Katsushige Mita, president of
because of their willingness - in contrast to
tinuing military presence but an Increasingly
Hitachi Ltd., was a few weeks ago when he
Japanese concerns - to transfer technology
marginal player in the most dynamic, boom-
arrived here to open yet more factories. "We
and promote local executives.
Ing economies in the world today.
feel very welcome here," Mr. Mita said.
Nonetheless there is a widespread sense
Japan's motives have also changed. Hideki
that America's mind is elsewhere. "Ameri-
Tojo, Japan's wartime prime minister,
can executives come through here, and Intel-
sought natural resources and military bases
lectually they understand it when I tell them
that if they are not in Asia in the next
century, they will probably be out of busi-
ness," said Mr. Cleveland, who with other
American ambassadors in the area plans to
barnstorm around the United States early
hood. Now more than 800 Japanese manufac-
next year to drum up more investment.
turers are here, and their presence has trans-
formed the economy: 59 percent of Malay-
"But it requires a lot more to invest in
sia's exports in 1990 were manufactured
Asia," he added. "You have to change your
goods.
character, your own practices. And in the
Matsushita led the drive. It vastly expand-
end, many decide they don't want to do it."
ed its plants. Today it has one of the world's
Rightly or wrongly, Japanese cite Ameri-
largest air-conditioner plants here - Malay-
ca's absence as an example of the short-
sia next year will be the world's largest
sightedness of American industry. "U.S.
producer of room air-conditioners - and It is
companies will change their mind in the near
building 14-inch television sets on a highly
future," said Atsushi Oi, who overseas Ja-
automated manufacturing line that uses
pan's Asia strategies for the powerful Minis-
some equipment so advanced that it has yet
ter of International Trade and Industry.
to be installed in Matsushita's older plants in
"And the market will still be growing. But no
Japan.
one can really understand why they are
Matsushita brought with it a raft of Japa-
giving up the chance to grab leading post-
nese suppliers, many of whom entered joint
tions."
ventures with local companies. Now roughly
80 percent of the parts used in the television
Japan's move into Asia began in earnest in
sets are locally sourced - though many of
1985, soon after the so-called Plaza currency
them by Japanese-based companies with
accord with the United States strongly drove
long ties to the electronics giant.
up the value of the yen and the price of
Slowly Japan is moving more technology
Japanese exports. Desperate to cut costs,
to places like the Matsushita plant, even
Japanese companies flocked to countries
designing television sets there. But as the
with easily trained, low-cost labor.
investment flow slows - it is already begin-
By all accounts, it was not a move orches-
ning to happen - tensions seem bound to
trated by the Japanese Government. Like
rise. Japan's experience in Korea and Tai-
most of Japan's industrial policy today, it did
wan suggests it still plans to leave the most
not need to be. The Keidanren, the organiza-
advanced, highest-value work at home, farm-
tion that represents Japan's biggest busi-
ing out the less profitable tasks. Over time,
nesses, organized "survey tours" and Invest-
the nations that welcome Japan today may
ing in Southeast Asia soon became a game of
feel increasingly exploited.
one-upmanship.
The lingering question of Japan's real mo-
If the move was driven by economics, it
tives will always push itself to the fore. For
was accelerated by Japanese-American
now, the Japanese seem happy to keep the
trade politics. Goods built in Malaysia or
new co-prosperity sphere solely economic in
Thailand are not included in Japan's trade
nature. But as Japan's interests in the region
accounts with the United States, even if they
deepen, no one knows, in the words of a senior
contain largely Japanese components. So Ja-
European diplomat with wide experience in
pan can still make television sets and VCR's
the region, "how long the political presence
and send them to American stores without
will stay so benign."
further enlarging the American trade deficit
For the United States, many believe, the
with Japan because of what amounts to an
time to challenge Japan in its home region is
accounting shell game that no one has yet
running short. "The story is like Pearl Har-
been able to quantify accurately. If these
bor," said James Alfred, a Malaysian who
goods were counted, the Japanese trade sur-
has long worked for Matsushita. "I look
plus would look far larger.
around and 1 see America enjoying itself. The
The development process was speeded by
Japanese are busy getting ready for the next
policy changes in some of the Asian coun-
project, refueling themselves in the air. You
tries. Malaysia, for example, had depended
never saw the planes coming across the
for years on its own people - chiefly the
Pacific, and you may not see this, either."
"bumiputra," or native Malays, to industrial-
ize the country. But it was not working. The
Chinese minority in Malaysia, often at odds
with the bumiputra, dominated the business
world.
Call Goes Out
For Foreign Help
So Mr. Mahathir, a wily leader with a
strong nationalistic streak, reversed course,
creating huge tax incentives for foreign in-
vestment and calling in companies like Mit-
subishi Motors to design and manufacture a
national car. Today the streets are filled with
a compact model call the Proton, complete
with an illuminated Malaysian flag on the
BoB GALUM/Motorda
12/17/91
My views on foreign trade and investment are known. I am an ad-
vocate for free and open trade. I have called for fairness between
parties. I will continue to be driven by these principles.
I acknowledge the substantial and continuing trade deficit between
Japan and the United States. All parties are pleased that it has mod-
erated from its peak of a few years ago. But the current high level
and projections show little promise for early, continuing reduction
following the course we are pursuing.
My countrymen and I are obliged to acknowledge that this cannot
sustain and still retain a healthy business relationship between our
two countries and the essential high order of cooperation and respect
on all other international affairs.
Therefore I am obliged to take a new position in our mutual best in-
terest. I have concluded that I must be a firmer influence to effect a
reduction in the trade deficit between our two countries by at least
50 percent by the end of my second term as President of the United
States.
Our present deficit exceeds $40 billion. An objective of tempering
this to at least something in the $20 billion range over the next five
years is not unreasonable. It is one that should be accomplishable in
the mix of all of the private transactions that it could involve without
significant dislocations.
From the U.S. side, I expect that this will be accomplished by the pri-
vate sector. I intend to encourage the following actions as a mini-
mum by the U.S. private business sector.
First, we recognize that the Japanese standards as customers are
high. I am returning to the United States with the intention of calling
together the representatives of our principal businesses to urge an
enhanced rededication to improving the quality of service and prod-
uct that they will further accomplish in the interest of earning a
higher market share in Japan.
Fortunately, much of American business has demonstrated a higher
quality culture over the last three years significantly as a result of
the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program. This has
stimulated heightened levels of quality and customer service with
even greater promise. It is my intention to urge that my fellow
2
Americans embrace these objectives with vigor and thus deserve to
earn a larger position in the Japanese market.
Second, I am going to call upon my American industrial associates to
examine the sufficiency of their resources and readiness to serve the
Japanese markets. Increased exports from the United States must be
one part of the formula that reduces our differential. Americans
must have the capacity and readiness in place, if insufficient at this
time, to serve the Japanese market in a timely fashion.
Each industry and each company within that industry must decide
for itself what it aspires to achieve. Our government will not direct.
Yet, I am going to ask my associates in government to maintain a
vigilant cognizance and so report to me the increasing level of
American responsiveness to Japan's needs and Japan's response to
these offerings.
Third, I am suggesting that key industries as they so wish to define
themselves will initiate industry sector to industry sector discussions
and possibly negotiations aimed at growing their total business and
changing their balance of trade. This idea has been tested by one in-
dustry. It is my expectation that such sector discussions appropri-
ately monitored to legal standards could be effective in the automo-
tive and electronics industry at least. Other industries of the two
countries whose sector leaders are willing will be similarly encour-
aged. The opportunity for more open marketness stimulated by di-
rect industry discussions could contribute to a more balanced net
trade between our two countries.
I will want reports from time to time as well as results.
Japan for its part must define reciprocal actions and responses.
I urge and expect the Japanese companies to enter sector to sector
deliberations with positive intentions.
I urge the Japanese professional buyers to accent the positive pro -
active role of the customer in drawing the American supplier into the
supply relationship in a partnering way. Those of us who have been
through all phases of Japan/American trade remember the 50s and
part of the 60s when American customers had to reach out helpfully
in building a useable relationship with one Japanese company after
another. Today, the Japanese professional buyer can do more in the
3
manner of their American counterparts of three decades ago. What-
ever increment of difference that may pertain regarding specifica-
tions, delivery, quality, etc. can be overcome through a cus-
tomer/supplier pro-active partnering spirit refreshingly nourished
by a renewed offering of quality and resourcing from responsive
American suppliers.
I want to make it clear that Americans are now of the mood that we
must achieve this kind of a result. I want the result to be achieved
as a function of the private sector of both nations working this out as
customers and suppliers who know how to team and partner with
each other as well as compete with each other in other parts of their
business.
If in the course of this five year span of time I get the sense that
we're not accomplishing results then the pressures will swell for last
resort mechanisms. You have seen all manner of proposals along this
line over recent years. I have resisted them. I do not want to see
last resort mechanisms used. But I cannot imagine that America's
patience both in itself and in its trading partner can sustain indefi-
nitely.
My focus is not on such resorts. It is on a positive new dedication on
the part of both parties--American suppliers and Japanese customers
as well as Japanese suppliers and American customers.
This is a big world. Markets will expand. We must firmly pursue
this modified course to upgrade, grow and further balance our af-
fairs.
RIGHT
WP
12/8/91
hall nad terminated retiree health benefits, leaving
more than 90,000 retirees responsible for their own
health coverage, either permanently or temporarily.
Health benefits are particularly vulnerable because,
unlike the case with pensions, companies are not re-
quired to "pre-fund" the benefits and can choose to pay
Wed.
Thur
May
2,3
9:AM
out for retiree hospital and doctor bills as the expenses
are incurred. As a result, many manufacturers have
Mon
sTue
Apr.
generated literally billions of dollars in liabilities that will
G.F. FURNITURE SYSTEMS
Inspection
come due as their workers retire.
8AM
4:30PM
Because the federal government does not insure
health benefits the way it does pensions, workers have
no guarantees, other than the good faith of their compa-
nies, that they will be there after retirement.
CONTINENTAL PLANTS CONTINENTAL PLANTS CONTINENTAL
CONTINENTAL PLANTS CA
In most cases, Medicare benefits are not available un-
til age 65, and retirees who cannot continue their com-
pany health coverage often have trouble getting private
insurance because of existing health problems. Medicaid
benefits cover only the poorest of the poor.
AT&T
"It is a real outrageous result," said David M. Fusco,
a Cleveland lawyer for the United Steelworkers of
America. "There are exceptions to these rules, and em-
THE VINDICATOR
ployers are taking advantage of them."
BY GARY HOVLAND FOR THE WASHINGTON POS:
General Fireproofing's plants went on the auction block after the huge furniture manufacturer filed for bankruptcy.
See HEALTH CARE, H6, Col. 3
Japan's 'Asian Bloc': More Illusion Than Reality
HOBART ROWEN
Behind the Rhetoric, Trade Statistics Show Nation's Ties Are Far Stronger to North America
U.S. Must
By Paul Blustein
Washington Post Foreign Service
A LOOK AT THE 'CO-PROSPERITY SPHERE'
Lead Soviet
BANGKOK-An hour's drive on the high-
way leading east from Thailand's capital viv-
rade between the United States and Asian
Rescue-Now
idly documents Japan's growing economic
T
power in this part of the world.
To East and
countries vastly exceeds trade within the
Nearly every car whizzing by is a Toyota,
Southeast Asia:
Asian "bloc." Asia is also a bigger market
JAPAN
a Honda, an Isuzu or some other Japanese
$78.4 billion
for American exports than is the European
To E.C.:
T
ime may be running out for the
West to launch an effective plan
make. Every couple of miles, another Japa-
Community, Canada or Latin America.
to rescue what once was called
To U.S.:
$98.1 billion
the Soviet Union. The Bush
nese-owned factory looms, making the likes
$91.1 billion
administration, distracted now by a
of Daikin air conditioners, Mitsubishi electri-
CANADA
necessary focus on the domestic
cal equipment, Hitachi wire, Nissan auto
recession, doesn't seem to have a
parts and Yamaha sports equipment.
Similar scenes can be found in Malaysia,
To Japan:
long-term game plan.
Indonesia and other nations in East and
SOUTH
$50.7 billion
To Japan:
To Canada:
A senior administration official told
$48.6 billion
$83.7 billion
Southeast Asia, the result of Japan's unprec-
KOREA
me that in the first eight months of this
year, Soviet economic output plunged
edented, $28 billion investment in the region
$100.1 billion
UNITED STATES
about 15 percent, nearly twice the
over the past five years.
TAIWAN
average annual decline during the
But although Japan's economic forays may
To East and
To Latin America:
American Great Depression in the
recall anxious memories of its military reach
PHILIPPINES
Southeast Asia:
for dominarice over Asia 50 years ago, the
$49.3 billion
1930s.
$51.5 billion
He estimated that inflation is
reality does not quite measure up to that im-
THAILAND
running at a 300 percent annual rate;
age, according to a range of experts and a
that agricultural production was down
solid array of trade statistics.
MEXICO
9 percent; that the grain harvest is off
Moreover, if any sort of economic "bloc" of
27 percent; and that the Soviet
nations is in the making, economists say, it is
MALAYSIA
one that stretches across the Pacific Ocean
To U.S.:
government deficit may be as high as
25 percent of national production.
to include-not just Asia, but North America
$89.4 billion
The most recent wake-up call for the
as well.
United States comes from its new
"One can't get away from the fact that
NOTE: Figures are for 1990.
NDONE
SOURCES: Mitsui Taiyo Kobe Research
ambassador to the Soviet Union,
there is increased trade within Asia, but
Trade within the region:
$73.2 billion
Institute; International Monetary Fund
Robert S. Strauss. One of Strauss's
even more dramatic and even more impor-
See ROWEN, H4, Col. 3
See JAPAN, H5, Col. 1
BY RICHARD WASHINGTON POST
THE WASHINGTON POST
Japan's Neighbors Wary of Nation's Power in Area
JAPAN, From H1
Not that the U.S. role is being lim-
ited to that of customer. "We now
peripherals and fax machines, among
tant is the increase in cross-Pacific
export more to Singapore than to
others.)
trade," said Peter Petri, a Brandeis
Spain or Italy," Secretary of State
University professor who has writ-
But other Asian nations treat Ja-
James A. Baker III noted in a recent
ten extensively on the subject.
speech.
pan with considerably less warmth,
"There have now been established
the most notable example being
In 1980, two-way trade between
such close links across the Pacific
the United States and the Asian Pa-
South Korea, which this year opened
that I cannot imagine anytime in the
cific countries (including Japan, Chi-
its stock market to foreign broker-
near future a viable Asian bloc that
na and Australia) totaled $113 bil-
age firms but pointedly excluded all
doesn't include the countries on the
lion-almost exactly the same as
Japanese securities houses.
eastern side of the Pacific."
two-way trade between the United
Moreover, Asian leaders have
Among those links, for example, is
States and Western Europe. Last
shown little enthusiasm for Mahath-
the $109 billion that Japanese com-
year, U.S. trade crossing the Pacific
ir's proposal to create an exclusive
panies have poured into North
exceeded $300 billion. The figure is
group of Asian nations because to do
America to erett factories and buy
roughly one-third greater than ei-
so would begin the process of cut-
businesses over the past five
ther transatlantic trade or intra-
ting themselves off from America
years-a figure nearly four times
Asian trade.
and handing regional leadership over
the amount invested in Asia.
Dig beneath the surface, econo-
to Japan.
Such a conclusion may seem sur-
mists add, and it becomes clear that
Even though Mahathir's proposal
prising, for both the Western and
Japan's growing trade with Asia rep-
has been watered down to a mere
Asian press have been rife with
resents less of a disengagement
"caucus" for discussing regional
speculation that an Asian bloc is in
from the American market than
matters, "It's a crazy idea" to start
the works. Helping to fuel the talk
might be assumed. Much of what is
down the road of Asian exclusivity, a
was the proposal last year by Malay-
happening, according to Petri, is "tri-
Korean diplomat said. Only if Europe
sian Prime Minister Mahathir Moha-
angular trade," in which "compo-
and the Americas split into protec-
mad for the creation of an East
nents and equipment are exported to
Asian Economic Group (EAEG) that
Asian nations by Japan, and final
would include Japan and the other
products go from the Asian coun-
tionist blocs would it make any
Asian nations of the Western Pacific,
tries to the European and U.S. mar-
sense, he added.
while excluding the United States,
kets."
American culture and values are
Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Japan's neighbors, ever mindful of
spreading, not receding, in Asia.
Further heightening the percep-
Tokyo's past imperialism, are show-
Much attention has been paid to
tion of a bloc in formation is the fact
ing a firm resolve to keep a lid on
the growing popularity in places like
that this year, Japan's trade with its
Japanese power in the region.
Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur of Japa-
Asian neighbors will exceed its trade
Throughout capitalist Asia, a con-
nese pop culture crazes such as
with the United States for the first
stant refrain can be heard: Even af-
karaoke (sing-along bars) and man-
time in decades. Meanwhile, the
ter the end of the Cold War, the
ga (comic books). But for sheer im-
closing of U.S. military bases in the
United States must remain as the
pact on Asian public opinion, nothing
Philippines and the planned with-
region's military superpower-in
can beat the fact that the region's
drawal of one-tenth of the 135,000
part because of fears about resur-
elite youth are flocking to attend
U.S. troops stationed in Asia have
gent Japanese militarism.
U.S. universities in record num-
reinforced the view that before long,
"If the U.S. withdrew its forces,"
bers-229,800 in the 1990-91 aca-
Japan will be stepping into a role as
said Kook-Chin Kim, dean for re-
demic year, well more than double
the region's natural leader.
search at Korea's Institute of For-
the number enrolled a decade before
But almost unnoticed among
eign Affairs and National Security,
and six times the number enrolled in
these highly publicized develop-
"Japan would surely increase its mili-
Japanese universities.
ments are some powerful trends
tary," because of having lost the pro-
Beyond that are some more intan-
working in the opposite direction. A
tection afforded by the U.S. pres-
gible factors. The Japanese working
close look at these trends suggests
ence. The result, Kim said, would be
in Asia are widely denounced for fail-
that, despite Japan's dominance as a
"a very dangerous situation" as other
ing to promote local people to top
supplier, investor and aid-giver in
nations raced to counter the new po-
management positions, for refusing
Asia, the American role in the region
tential threat from Japan. "Every
to share their companies' technolo-
will remain preeminent for the fore-
country in this region appreciates
seeable future-unless, of course,
the role that the U.S. plays," he said.
the United States decides on its own
One country-Malaysia-seems
gies, and for generally being clan-
to retreat into protectionist isola-
to be putting itself unabashedly in Ja-
nish. U.S. businesses, by contrast,
tion.
pan's orbit, in part because of Prime
are regarded as much more open
"Japan can't replace the U.S. in
Minister Mahathir's zest for thumb-
ing his nose at the West. The Malay-
and integrated with their communi-
terms of wielding influence in this
sian government even asked the Ja-
ties.
region," said Sanjoy Chowdhury,
chief regional economist for Merrill
pan External Trade Organization
It is undeniable, however, that Ja-
Lynch & Co. in Singapore. "I think
(JETRO) to perform a study identify-
pan's ability to shape events in this.
more and more people are realizing
ing what products Malaysia should
part of the world is far greater than
that."
specialize in to attract Japanese in-
15 years ago, when a visit by then-
Here are some of the reasons:
vestment. (The answer: computer
prime minister Kakuei Tanaka
The explosion of commerce across
sparked riots in Bangkok.
the Pacific has given the United
This increasing influence is a nat-
States a semi-permanent importance
ural consequence of the magnetic
as the largest single customer for
Asia's export machines, just as Asian
pull that Japan's economic success
countries are major customers for
has in creating a role model for some
U.S. manufactured and agricultural
less successful economies. It is also a
products.
natural consequence of the benefits
"To talk about Japan as the hub of
that Japanese investment has
Asia really isn't accurate," said Rob-
brought. Malaysia, for example, has
ert Broadfoot, managing director of
gone in five years from being an ex-
Political and Economic Risk Consul-
porter primarily of rubber, palm oil,
'tancy Ltd., a Hong Kong-based firm.
crude oil and tin to an exporter pri-
"Japan is a very large supplier to
See JAPAN, H6, Col. 1
many of the countries of the region,
[but] which is more important, your
supplier or your market? You can de-
bate that all day."
H6 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1991
THE WASHINGTON Po:
U.S. Role
last week that it will expand its Bang-
kok plant so that it can manufacture
180,000 units a year, triple the cur-
Bankruptcies E
rent level. The company said it would
In Asia Well
ship about half of those air condition-
HEALTH CARE, From H1
paid the
ers to Japan, but half will go for the lo-
cal Southeast Asian and Australian
Apart from General Fireproofing,
paymen
said Sta
market.
consider what's happened in the
Established
is the S
But a number of veteran observers
Youngstown area alone, a region that
shrug their shoulders over the Japa-
was battered badly in the 1980s by the
and get
declining fortunes of the steel industry
Gene
nese surge. "Japan is the new boy on
has bee
JAPAN, From H5
and the resulting loss of some 50,000
the block in terms of foreign invest-
manufacturing jobs. Republic Hose
promine
marily of manufactured products
ment," said Broadfoot of Political and
Manufacturing Corp. shut down last
smaller
such as air conditioners.
Economic Risk Consultancy. "The
year, leaving more than 130 workers
used to
What worries many Americans in
average U.S. company has got about
theless
and retirees without health coverage.
the region is that U.S. companies have
21 percent of its production outside
Another firm, Valley-Vulcan Mold Co.,
employ
for the most part stood idly by while
the United States, and the average
ceased paying all of its retiree benefits
workers
Japanese competitors have sunk their
German company has about 17 or 18
after filing for protection under Chap-
roots into some of the most dynamic
percent of its production outside Ger-
Wiping
ter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code.
economies of the world. A few Ameri-
many. The average Japanese company
To find ways of reducing burgeon-
Establ
can high-technology companies, such
has only about 6 percent of its produc-
ing medical costs, even profitable com-
mous as
as Motorola Inc., Intel Corp., Ad-
tion outside Japan. They're rushing to
panies have begun to reduce coverage
of "firep
vanced Micro Devices Inc. and Texas
catch up now, and everyone is saying,
of retirees. But in economically hard-
such as t
Instruments Inc., have established
'We're being taken over.'
hit manufacturing communities such
cause yo.
new Asian manufacturing operations in
But the U.S. presence in Asia was
as Youngstown, where hundreds of
four feet
recent years, but they are the excep-
well established before the Japanese
middle-aged people and their families
GF expa
tion rather than the rule.
surge began and there are some signs
have lost their coverage, anxiety has
four plant
"We used to own the auto market
of a selective revival. Broadfoot and
pushed the issue to the front burner.
unrelated
Youngstown is just west of the border
Minnesot
out here," lamented Bob Martin, the
other analysts predict, for example,
head of Colgate-Palmolive Co.'s Thai
that the highly competitive U.S. ser-
with Pennsylvania, where Harris Wof-
town Vin
vice industry will become increasingly
ford (D) capitalized on these concerns
But GI
operation. "Now you can't even see an
American car. This is where per capita
active in Asia over the coming decade;
to win an upset victory over former
bitter 1.
an example is National Medical Enter-
U.S. attorney general Richard Thorn-
Youngst
income is increasing; this is where the
prises, which is already running medi-
burgh in last month's Senate race.
Former e.
market is booming. How can the U.S.
auto industry not be here?"
cal operations in Singapore, Malaysia
"This is absolutely the single thing
say the cc
and other countries.
most on the mind of people in my dis-
evolving
And there is evidence that Japanese
"The U.S. and Europeans invested
trict," said Robert F. Hagen, Youngs-
ucts and
companies are starting to embark on a
in this region a long time ago," Broad-
town's representative in the Ohio leg-
too high.
new strategy to capitalize on Asia's
islature and sponsor of a universal
pany was
foot continued. "Take a look, for exam-
rapidly growing markets. When they
health plan for the state along the lines
nually. E:
ple, at Hong Kong. Look at the U.S.
first began erecting factories in the re-
of Canada's national health plan. "Peo-
proofing 2
Chamber [of Commerce] versus the
gion, they were motivated by a need
ple can't pay for health care anymore,
Youngstov
Japanese Chamber. The U.S. Chamber
to secure cheap labor, to compensate
and they're feeling it. They're feeling
workers,
has about five times the membership."
for a surge in the value of the yen
the threat of losing their home."
Tennessee
That partly reflects the fact that
starting in 1985 that was threatening
Staughton and Alice Lynd, legal ser-
A few
American companies have been in
to render their products uncompeti-
vices attorneys representing GF work-
announced
Hong Kong longer, he said, but it also
tive. Now, the same companies are in-
ers here, said places like Youngstown
By then, (
reflects the large non-American mem-
are full of families who worked their
vesting more with an eye to serving an
$300,000
bership of the group, "because the or-
increasingly prosperous local customer
entire lives in one plant to become en-
its retiree
ganization is localized. Look at the Jap-
base.
titled to fringe benefits such as medi-
unfunded
anese membership-it's just Japanese
cal insurance and pensions.
$30 millio;
For example, Daikin Industries Ltd.,
names, which shows what one of their
"These people felt they lived up to
GF attorne
an air conditioner maker, announced
problems is."
every contract they ever made. They
self the SO.
THE 1992 MERCURY SAI
OFFERS A SAFETY
COMBINATION UNEQUAL
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
December 12, 1991
FOR TONY SNOW/CHRISTIAN MARTIN
FROM DOUG PAAL/TORKEL PATTERSON
For your use in speeches. Education
materials should be woven into major
speech in Japan.
Attachments
U.S.-Japan Trade Relationship
Japan is our second-largest export market after Canada, and
it is our largest agricultural market.
Japan is a billion dollar market for many U.S. products
ranging from aluminum and beef to semiconductors and
medical equipment.
We have run a large trade deficit with Japan for many
years, which peaked in 1987 at $57 billion.
Since then, our deficit has fallen steadily to $41 billion
in 1990. Even so, our 1990 bilateral trade deficit was 41
percent of our global deficit.
Despite the persistence of the deficit, the U.S. trade
relationship with Japan has improved substantially on the
export side.
Since 1985, our exports to Japan have risen 119%, compared
to a 79% increase in U.S. exports globally.
Some have worried that the U.S. has become an "economic
colony" of Japan, importing final manufactured goods while
exporting agricultural and primary products.
In fact, in recent years Japanese purchases of U.S.
manufactured products have risen much faster than have
their imports of U.S. agricultural and primary products.
Manufactured goods now account for about 64% of U.S.
exports to Japan, up from 55% in 1985.
However, our deficit with Japan was on the rise during the
first nine months of this year, up 4.7% from 1990, to $30.9
billion from $29.2 billion.
This is in part a function of Japan's global surplus,
which is up sharply this year to $56 billion from $29
billion, January-September.
In upcoming months, a slowing Japanese economy can be
expected to put pressure on Japanese firms to export.
Our insatiable appetite for imports, especially Japanese
imports, makes that task easy for Japanese firms.
--
In 1990, U.S. imports of Japanese autos and auto parts
exceeded our auto exports to Japan by $30.3 billion.
Balancing the bilateral trade relationship will depend in
part on the ability of U.S. businesses to compete with
Japanese products here at home.
- 2 -
Investment
o
The U.S. is the largest net foreign investor in the world.
-- In the third quarter of 1990, the book value of U.S.
direct foreign investment (DFI) stood at $411 billion.
--
Japan's global stock of DFI is about one-third of ours.
o
Quarterly inflows of foreign investment into the U.S. have
fallen steadily from the peak in the fourth quarter of
1989, from $22.4 billion to $3.3 billion in the second
quarter of 1991.
In the first three quarters of 1990, our investment
overseas grew by nearly $40 billion; foreign investment in
the U.S. grew by only $20 billion.
o
Japan is the second-largest investor in the U.S. after the
United Kingdom. Japanese investment stood at $84 billion
in 1990, compared to $122 billion of British investments.
O
Direct investment flows from Japan nosedived from $12.3
billion in the first half of 1990 to $0.8 billion in the
first half of 1991.
Drafted: EAP/J: HKenworthy
12/6/91 SEJEC 6690
Implications for
What lessons, then, do I draw from Japanese education that
American educators and policymakers may wish to consider?
American
Not, let me be clear, that we should try to mimic specific prac-
tices or imitate particular arrangements. We would not, for ex-
ample, want to emulate the basic organizational framework of
Education
Japanese education that relies heavily on direction and control
from the central government.
Instead, we should look for principles, emphases and relation-
ships in Japanese education that are compatible with American
Epilogue by Secretary
values, indeed that tend to embody American values (as well as
many findings of education research), to see how we might bor-
William J. Bennett
row and adapt them for ourselves.
Let me offer a dozen such principles that I glean from the
What lessons might we draw for ourselves from a close look
foregoing pages as well as from other accounts of Japanese
at Japanese education? It is scarcely a novel query. Japan, after
education. I would note that none of these findings, conclusions,
all, has increasingly become a reference point or gauge by which
and impressions is uniquely the property of Japan. Rather, they
Americans appraise our own education system.
are uncommonly well-displayed within modern Japanese educa-
At the same time, many American educators have tended to
tion. Where appropriate, I have noted some agreements between
shun the "lessons" of Japanese education. "Their culture is so
Japanese practice and our own research findings.
different," we are told, or "their society is so homogeneous,"
1. Parental engagement with the education of their children,
that nothing about their education enterprise could possibly be
from infancy through high school, makes a big difference in how
germane to the American experience. This stance seems
much and how well children learn. As we said in What Works,
somewhat peculiar for American educators, who generally want
"parents are their children's first and most influential teachers."
the lessons children learn in our schools to yield deep under-
It seems to me that Japanese families have melded parenting and
standing and appreciation of other peoples and cultures. So it
formal education in commendable fashion-and in many cases
strikes me as odd that many educators have characterized
have accomplished this with only one parent "on the scene" much
Japanese education as interesting, perhaps in its own terms im-
of the time. Yet it does not seem that Japanese families (or pre-
pressive, but fundamentally irrelevant to their lives and work.
schools and daycare centers) "hurry" young children into
Why should we Americans seek to distill lessons for ourselves
academic work. Instead, they do their best to equip the youngster
from the experience of Japanese education? For two main
with attitudes and habits that will stand him in good stead when
reasons, the first practical, the second more idealistic.
formal schooling begins. And once it does, the parent stays in
Japanese education works. It is not perfect, but it has been
touch with the teachers, supervises the homework, arranges ex-
demonstrably successful in providing modern Japan with a
tra instructional help if needed, and buttresses the child's motiva-
powerfully competitive economy, a broadly literate population,
tion to do well in school and beyond. Many American parents
a stable democratic government, a civilization in which there
also do these things. More should.
is relatively little crime or violence, and a functional society
2. Schools are clear about their purposes-and children and
wherein the basic technological infrastructure is sound and
parents are, too. Though Japanese schools attend to character
reliable. One may not attribute these accomplishments entirely
formation, physical health, and good behavior, and offer a wide
to the education system, but it would be folly to deny that the
variety of teams, clubs and other extracurricular activities, they
education system has strongly reinforced them.
nonetheless seem to remain well-focused on their central func-
We Americans, being a pragmatic people, would therefore be
tions. They have not turned into societal multiservice centers,
well-advised to learn what we can from Japanese education if
nor are they buffeted by pedagogical and curricular fads. They
only because of its manifest success. But there is a more abstract
know their mission and role and, while these are not exclusive-
reason, too: It is the American belief in the value of universal
ly "cognitive," they are the objects of sustained and purposeful
education that the Japanese have so successfully put into prac-
effort by everyone associated with the schools. To borrow once
tice, and the American quandary over "equality" and "excellence"
more from What Works, a great many Japanese schools seem
that the Japanese seem rather satisfactorily to have resolved. Our
to embody these characteristics that research has ascribed to "ef-
educational ideals are better realized on a large scale in Japan
fective" schools: "places where principals, teachers, students,
than observers have tended to realize.
and parents agree on the goals, methods and content of school-
This is not, to be sure, entirely coincidental. The structures,
ing. They are united in recognizing the importance of a coherent
policies and practices of modern Japanese education have been
curriculum, public recognition for students who succeed, pro-
influenced in no small part by that nation's remarkable knack
moting a sense of school pride, and protecting school time for
for borrowing an idea and then adapting it, working it out in
learning."
detail, and executing it with thoroughness and finesse in the
3. Motivation matters. There is a continuing emphasis in
Japanese context. And at least a few of the ideas and approaches
Japanese society, at least through the primary and secondary
used in education in Japan can be traced to American influence
years, on awakening in students the "desire to try," the sense that
four decades ago.
significant rewards accompany school success, the conviction
69
that progress can be made by practically anyone who tries hard
youngsters with a deep sense of good and bad, right and wrong,
enough, and the realization that adults genuinely care about one's
moral and immoral. As Aristotle and William James both re-
performance.
mind us, character is acquired through habit. And if children
4. Expectations and standards matter, too. Children learn
see teachers and principals as models of democratic sensibilities,
more when more is expected of them. In What Works we cited
they will tend to build the right kind of habits.
research indicating that "Students tend to learn as little-or as
If Japanese schools do any one thing with greater care and per-
much-as their teachers expect." The Japanese experience sug-
sistence than other nations of whose education systems I have
gests that the expectations and standards of community and fami-
knowledge, it is to forge the kinds of habits that their society
ly powerfully influence the child, too. Leaving aside special
deems right.
schools and programs in the U.S., the Japanese generally seem
8. The school and classroom environment should reflect the
to expect a level of performance that is closer to children's true
purposes to be achieved there. Japanese education here confirms
intellectual capacities than Americans ordinarily do. More
both research and common sense; a well-ordered, and pur-
remarkably, they adhere to these standards for virtually all
poseful learning environment, including both formal discipline
youngsters, never supposing that one or another category or sub-
and a high level of individual self-discipline, is the kind of set-
population cannot accomplish as much as everybody else. These
ting in which learning best occurs. Appropriate school behavior
beliefs do not, to be sure, work perfectly for every single child,
and effective study habits are instilled in Japanese youngsters
and the Japanese, we understand, are interested in some of our
from the first day of school-and prudently foreshadowed by
ways of assisting youngsters who have special needs, problems
much that occurs in home and preschool settings. Visitors to
or gifts. But the Japanese also tend not to underestimate
Japanese schools report being in the principal's office of a junior
children's potential or be overly swayed by external character-
high school with the office door open and several hundred young
istics. They elicit more from students because they have high
adolescents not more than 50 yards away. Yet it is possible to
standards for ordinary youngsters.
converse in normal tones with no interruptions from the cor-
5. It is possible to deliver to virtually all children a com-
ridor. Remarkably, though, Japanese schools are not somber
prehensive basic education that starts with the "3-R's" but also
places, nor are their students fearful and inhibited. They laugh
incorporates history, science, art and music, physical education,
and play, are cheerful and enthusiastic, just like girls and boys
practical studies, and the beginning of foreign language study.
around the world. But they seem to have learned what kinds of
This can be done through a balanced and integrated curriculum
behavior are appropriate, where and when. So should our
that is substantially the same for all youngsters during the period
youngsters.
of compulsory attendance-and then allows limited choices and
9. Ensuring that enough time is effectively devoted to learn-
some specialization in the senior high school.
ing, in school and out, is one of the most reliable means by
6. The school can and should do its part to transmit the shared
which adults can help children acquire a good education. Here
and inherited culture to the next generation. A nation whose
Japanese educators and parents seem to have worked out a three-
young people do not understand its history is ill-equipped to
part strategy. First, they assign so many days and hours to for-
relate knowledgeably to other nations or to learn from
mal education that by the end of 12 grades a Japanese student
experience-either its own or that of others. Moreover, a society
has actually accumulated the equivalent of an entire American
whose people fail to become "culturally literate" will have in-
school year more instructional time than students the same age
creasing difficulty with internal communications, domestic tran-
in the United States. Second, they minimize diversions and
quility, informed civic participation, and external relations.
distractions in school so that little time is wasted during the day
Though my own intellectual convictions would not lead me
or in the class period. By ensuring good classroom discipline,
to organize a social studies curriculum quite as the Japanese
and by assigning responsibility for routine procedures to the
have, I admire the systematic and purposeful stance they have
students themselves, the teacher is able to remain "on task" for
brought to the transmission of historical knowledge and cultural
nearly all of the allotted time. Third, youngsters do not stop
understanding through the schools.
learning when school ends. There is homework to be done, there
7. Sound character, sturdy values and ethical behavior may
are exams to be studied for and, for many boys and girls, parents
not originate in school, but the formal education system can rein-
provide for additional, unofficial instruction from various
force and nurture these qualities both through the regular cur-
sources. Instead of tailoring standards to the student, Japanese
riculum and through the "implicit curriculum," as I termed it in
education seems to vary the total learning time that a student puts
First Lessons. This phrase refers to the way the school organizes
in so as to enable him to achieve the goals that he and his parents
and presents itself, how the adults in it conduct themselves, the
and teachers have set.
standards that are set for behavior and integrity, the symbols and
10. Besides extracting the most learning from the time
attitudes, the incentives, rewards, sanctions and ceremonies.
available, education needs to ensure that its other resources are
Japanese schools designate certain hours for "moral educa-
deployed in accord with its priorities. The Japanese have put
tion"-but the amount of attention they pay to children's
their money into a high quality teaching force and basic educa-
character far exceeds the class time specifically reserved for such
tion materials, not into frills, large bureaucracies, lavish
studies. Nor do teachers and principals (or parents and other
facilities, innumerable electives or platoons of specialists. Yet
adults) refrain from committing themselves to clear distinctions,
children learn-while in school-to play musical instruments,
or from indicating preferred courses of action, or imbuing
to read a second language, to read and write their own difficult
70
language, in most schools even to swim! Though teachers are
lege of one's choice; and more distant rewards in the worlds of
relatively well-paid, their classes are large-and the teaching
work and adult society. Notwithstanding reports of "pressure"
year lasts nearly 12 months.
on Japanese young people, their on-time high school graduation
Japanese families incur a number of out-of-pocket expenses
rate is considerably greater than our own, and their average level
for education at every level-and they pay tuition for senior high
of skill and knowledge acquisition is higher than in any other
school, even in public institutions. I do not suggest that we
"universal" education system I know.
emulate that practice, but I do note that in both their private and
There are aspects of Japanese education, perhaps especially
public outlays for education, the Japanese strive to ensure that
at the college level, that do not impress me, that would not be
they are getting value for money.
appropriate in the American context, or that contravene other
11. Competent, dedicated teachers make for good schools-
principles we value. Educational opportunities in Japan may not
and a society that offers its teachers reasonable remuneration,
be especially responsive to children with special needs, for ex-
respected status in the community, an orderly school environ-
ample. It is important to note, however, that Japan has embarked
ment, a substantial measure of colleagueship and responsibility,
on an education reform movement of its own and that many
and opportunities to recharge their intellectual and professional
discontents and criticisms have been voiced within that nation.
batteries-such a society can attract a surfeit of eager, qualified
It seems likely that changes are in the offing.
people to the classroom, and can retain them in the teaching pro-
But it is not my place either to praise or to criticize Japanese
fession. It may be noted that, in most cases, the Japanese do not
education. Nor have I attempted to construct a comprehensive
enter the teaching profession via colleges of education, nor is
catalog of specific lessons or promising imports for the United
it necessary to do so in order to be knowledgeable about one's
States. The dozen "principles" sketched above may, however,
field and competent to transmit one's knowledge to young peo-
be encouraging to Americans who even without benefit of
ple. Remember: Japanese schools have more than five applicants
detailed knowledge of Japanese education had adduced these or
for every classroom opening.
similar points from research, from experience, from history,
12. Youngsters who take responsiblity- are held
from reason, or from common sense. The essential lesson for
accountable- for their educational achievement are apt to work
us to glean from our examination of Japanese education, after
hard, to persist, and in time to learn a lot. What we sometimes
all, besides the intrinsic rewards of enhanced knowledge and
call the Protestant ethic is strong in Japanese education. There
understanding, is that much of what seems to work well for
are clear rewards for success: short-term rewards in the respect
Japan in the field of education closely resembles what works best
of one's peers and praise from parents and teachers; mid-range
in the United States-and most likely elsewhere. Good educa-
rewards in gaining admission to the senior high school or col-
tion is good education.
71
12. 13. 91
03:31 VI
PO2
Persian Gulf
UNCLASSIFIED
December 13, 1991
In addition to participating in the Gulf War (Australia had
three frigates participating in the naval effort), Australia
continues to be a part of the Multinational Interdiction Force
operating in the region. Specifically, the Royal Australian
Navy frigate HMAS Sydney continues to take part in naval
interdiction activities in the area.
Australia also has contributed a total of A$ 5 million (US$ 4
million) for emergency relief and refugee assistance arising
from the Gulf Crisis. This has been distributed through the
following organizations (figures in US$):
UNDRO - $1 million
IOM - $1 million
UNICEF - $200,000
ICRC/Red Crescent - $1.2 million
Australian NGOs - $200,000
UNWRA (for aid to Palestinians) - $400,000
This does not include in-kind assistance to Egypt and IBRD
commitments.
In Operation Provide Comfort (last May), Australia sent a team
of 70 Australian Defence Force personnel to provide medical and
water purification services for the relief of Kurds and other
Iraqi refugees in Turkey.
Let us know if you need anything further.
Brian.
Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
(George Bush Library)
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02. Report
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The US has been engaged in the Asia-Pacific region
ever since World War II. It had provided economic
assistance and contributed towards creating a stable
security environment enabling countries in the region
to prosper economically. In the course of this, the
US has also attained substantive economic interests
in the region.
The Asia-Pacific region is now in the midst of rapid
economic growth. It is by far the fastest growing
region in the world comprising not only Japan and the
NIEs (Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore),
but also emerging NIEs (such as Thailand, Malaysia)
and others with economic potential such as Indonesia,
the PRC (coastal regions) and possibly Vietnam which
collectively would, in the near future, provide
opportunities for expanded markets and investments
for the US. Data on economic growth figures of some
of these Asia-Pacific countries are at Annex. The
US will therefore have even greater stakes in the
region in the medium and long-term.
By virtue of its contributions, the US has a rightful
stake in the region. There is also an ample
reservoir of goodwill towards the US in the region.
The US should not therefore miss out on this
opportunity to "cash in" on the region's economic
growth potential to increase its economic stake in
the region.
The reservoir of goodwill is transient. If the US
regresses in its economic, political and security
engagement in the region or is perceived to be doing
so, others are already waiting in the wings and
poised to take over, the prize being an expanding
economic pie. Once this happens, the US will find
it very difficult to return to the region, as the
British have discovered.
There is a very big difference between the US being
an insider and part of the Asia-Pacific region and
the US being an outsider or an on-looker. The US
already has large economic stakes in the region. As
this increases, so too will the US interest in
ensuring that stability prevails in the region.
2
In terms of security, while the US has no intention
of abrogating its regional security role, it is
seeking cooperation in maintaining its presence in
the region. The US is already pursuing such options
as cost sharing and seeking access agreements with
countries in the region. Countries in the region
should be encouraged to cooperate with the US in this
venture.
As the US fleshes out its Asia-Pacific policy
however, it has to realise that the status quo in the
Asia-Pacific region is changing. The US is no longer
dealing with backwater Third World countries. As
mentioned previously, the Asia-Pacific region
comprises Japan, the NIEs, emerging NIEs and others
with economic potential and huge markets. The off-
shoot of this economic prosperity has been that Asia-
Pacific countries are now more self-confident and
assertive. This is even more so now that the Cold
War is over. The concern would be how this new mood
would impact on the future US role in the Asia-
Pacific region given the current perception (despite
repeated US assurances to the contrary) that an
economically depressed US is slowly withdrawing from
the region.
The US therefore needs to be seen to be wanting to
be engaged in the region and to work collectively as
an insider with Asia-Pacific countries to define the
future economic, political and security agenda in the
Asia-Pacific region, aspects which are intrinsically
intertwined. If the US remains as a critic from the
outside, it runs the risk of being left out in the
process of shaping the Asia-Pacific economic,
political and security agenda.
With or without the US, the Asia-Pacific countries,
with their new found mood of self-confidence and
assertiveness, would inevitably work towards defining
some sort of an agenda to enhance regional
cooperation. To help shape the outcome, the US needs
to be involved as an insider in the process. If not,
others such as Japan and the PRC are likely to emerge
as the leaders for obvious reasons and chart the
future direction of the Asia-Pacific, particularly
political and security cooperation.
3
To counterbalance a Japan getting more powerful by
the day, the US needs options in China and ASEAN.
The US and China must remain engaged. The US should
also develop new links with ASEAN.
The changes that are taking place in the Asia-Pacific
and the dynamics inherent in the region which is now
developing its own identity compel the Asia-Pacific
countries to think of new modalities to organise
emerging political, security and economic
relationships in the region. Already there is
evidence of this search for new arrangements such as
the separate Australian and Canadian proposals for
an Asia-Pacific equivalent to the CSCE, and the
Malaysian proposal to develop a security system built
around the Southeast Asia Treaty of Amity and
Cooperation. This does not mean that we should do
away with existing tried and tested arrangements.
These should continue.
But at the same time, there is also a need to
consider adding new layers of relationships to
reinforce the existing basic economic, political and
security relationships. An example of this could be
a linkage between NAFTA and the emerging ASEAN Free
Trade Area. A political and security analogue to the
APEC process could be developed, such as former
Japanese FM Taro Nakayama's proposal to enhance the
security aspects of the ASEAN Post-Ministerial
Conference.
4
Annex
GROWTH FIGURES OF SOME ASIA-PACIFIC COUNTRIES
1988
1989
1990
1991
Japan
4.8%
4.8%
5.6%
*4.5%
South Korea
12%
6.5%
9.0%
*8.6%
Taiwan
7.2%
7.2%
5.2%
*7.6%
Hong Kong
-
3.0%
2.5%
*7.3%
PRC
11%
4.0%
5.0%
*6.9%
Malaysia
7.4%
7.7%
10%
*8.0%
Singapore
10.9%
9.2%
8.3%
*7.5%
Thailand
11%
10.8%
10%
*8.0%
Indonesia
-
5.7%
6.0%
-
Overall, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow by 6%
in 1991 compared to near zero growth for the rest of the
world. For 1992, the Asia-Pacific region is estimated to
grow 6.5% compared to 2.3% for the rest of the world. (Asian
Development Bank estimate) .
*
Asian Development Bank estimates.
(Note:
The other
figures were obtained from the CIA World Factbooks).
Singapore
340
Staying in Singapore
341
lic transportation system that provides easy, low-cost access
Mid-Jan. During Ponggal, the four-day harvest festival, Tamil Indians
around the city of Singapore and the island.
from South India offer rice, curries, vegetables, sugarcane,
Taxes There is no sales tax in Singapore. A 4% government tax is
and spices in thanksgiving to the Hindu gods. In the evening,
added to restaurant and hotel bills; sometimes a 10% service
the celebration takes place at the temples, where rice is cooked
charge is added as well. There is a S$12 airport departure tax
while prayers are chanted to the music of bells, drums, clari-
(for travelers to Malaysia, the tax is S$5). It is payable at the
nets, and conch shells. The Perumal Temple of Serangoon Road
airport. To save time and avoid standing in line, you can buy a
is the best place to view these rites.
tax voucher at your hotel or any airline office.
Mid-Jan.-Feb. Thaipusam, probably the most spectacular-and certainly the
Sample Prices Cup of coffee, 50€; large bottle of beer, $2; lunch at a hawker
most gruesome-festival in Asia, celebrates the victory of the
stand, $5; dinner at an elegant restaurant, $25; full breakfast at
Hindu god Subramaniam over the demon Idumban. After
a luxury hotel, $9. The cost of a standard double room: moder-
night-long ritual purification and chanting, penitents enter a
ate, $75-$115; very expensive, over $150.
trance and pierce their flesh with knives, steel rods, and fish
hooks, which they wear during the procession. The 8.1-km (5-
Language
mi) procession begins at the Perumal Temple on Serangoon
Road, passes the Sri Mariamman Temple on South Bridge
Singapore is a multiracial society with four official languages:
Road, and ends at the Chettiar Temple.
of administration, is a required course for every schoolchild,
The lunar New Year celebration lasts for 15 days, and most
Moriof
the same
Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, and English. The national language is
Malay; the lingua franca is English. English, also the language
Chinese New Year is the only time the Chinese stop working.
and is used in the entrance examinations for universities.
shops and businesses close for about a week.
Hence, virtually all Singaporeans speak English with varying
Feb. The end of the Chinese New Year is marked by the Chingay
degrees of fluency. Mandarin is increasingly replacing the
Procession. Chinese, Malays, and Indians all get into the act for
other Chinese dialects. However, many Chinese will use
this event. Clashing gongs and beating drums, lion dancers
SinEnglish, a Singaporean version of English, to converse with
lead a procession of Chinese stilt-walkers, swordsmen, warri-
other ethnic groups, including other Chinese.
ors, acrobats, and characters from Chinese myth and legend.
Opening and Closing Times
Feb. or Mar. The Birthday of the Monkey God celebrates this character
greatly loved by the Chinese. His birth is marked with a festi-
Businesses are generally open weekdays 9 or 9:30 to 5 or 5:30;
val twice a year in Chinese temples-once in the spring and
some, not many, are also open on Saturday mornings.
again around September. Mediums, with skewers piercing
their cheeks and tongues, go into trances. Chinese street oper-
Banks Banking hours are weekdays 10-3, Saturday 9:30-11:30 am.
as and puppet shows are usually performed in temple court-
Branches of the Development Bank of Singapore stay open un-
til 3 PM on Saturday. The bank at Changi airport is open whenev-
yards, and processions are held at the temples along Eng Hoon
and Cumming streets.
er there are flights. Money-changers operate whenever there are
customers in the shopping centers they serve.
Apr.-May
Ramadan is the month of daytime fasting among the city's Mus-
lim population. Food stalls in Bussorah Street and around the
Museums Many museums close on Monday; otherwise, they are generally
Sultan Mosque sell a variety of dishes at the end of the day's
open 9-5.
fast.
Shops Shop opening times vary. Department stores and many shops
May or June
The Birthday of the Third Prince celebrates this child god. The
in big shopping centers are generally open seven days a week
Chinese worship him as a hero and a miracle-worker. A temple
from about 10 to 8 (later some evenings). Smaller shops tend to
in his honor is located at the junction of Clarke Street and
close on Sundays, although there is no firm rule now that com-
petition is so intense.
North Boat Quay, near Chinatown; on his birthday, it is
crowded with noisy worshipers who come to watch the flashy
National Holidays
Chinese operas, which begin around noon.
Vesak Day commemorates the Buddha's birth, Enlightenment,
The following are national holidays: Jan. 1 (New Year's Day);
and death. It is the most sacred annual festival in the Buddhist
Jan. 27, 28 (Chinese New Year); Good Friday (Apr. 13); Hani
calendar. Throughout the day, starting before dawn, saffron-
Raya Puasa (Apr. 26); Labor Day (May 1); Vesak Day (May 9);
robed monks chant holy sutras in all the major Buddhist tem-
Hari Raya Haji (July 3); National Day (Aug. 9); Dee'pavali
ples. Captive birds are set free. Candlelight processions are
(Oct. 7); Dec. 24
held around some of the temples in the evening.
Festivals and Seasonal Events
June The Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the martyrdom of Qu
Yuan, a Chinese poet and minister of state during the Chou dy-
Singapore is a city of festivals, from the truly exotic to the
nasty (4th century BC), who was exiled for speaking out against
strictly-for-tourists. The exact dates vary from year to year ac-
court corruption and finally threw himself into the river. On see-
cording to the lunar or Islamic calendar.
ing Qu Yuan's final and desperate act, local fishermen thrashed
the water with their oars and beat drums to prevent fish from de-
vouring their drowning hero. The anniversary of his death is cele-
histan. Sir Charles
ain in 1843, trans-
reading "Peccavi,"
he conquest was
er, Sind became
cally, as well as
was administered
intil 1937, when it
red to as a "caul-
:perienced an ex-
lations since the
16 distinct types
rk on the region,
, languages, arts,
the greatest im-
Their influence-
-can be seen in
inguage and cus-
bic script, camel
C, and the cultiva-
provincial capital
of the University
1) east of Karachi,
built by the Mu-
is considered to
ing example of
subcontinent.
Maratha rulers in
valior. See also
Singapore is Southeast Asia's busiest commercial and industrial center.
ALLEN GREEN/PHOTO RESEARCHERS
856-1941), Nor-
He was born in
SINGAPORE, sing'e-pôr, the smallest nation in
studied in Chris-
Southeast Asia. Essentially an island city-state,
luctantly proclaimed independence in the wake
zig Conservatory,
it is situated off the southern tip of the Malay
of his state's eviction from the federal union.
funich. He then
Peninsula athwart the northern, preferred pas-
Malaya, the other major partner, had from the
Christiania, aided
sageway between the Indian and Pacific oceans.
outset felt uneasy in association with its southern
from the Norwe-
Thus it commands a strategic threshold of inter-
neighbor because of the island's predominantly
national commerce that for centuries has been
Chinese population and formally socialist gov-
a with his Piano
powers. coveted by regional and, especially, nonregional
ernment. Now rejected by the federation and
uently composed
soon all but abandoned by Britain in matters of
specially for the
Founded in 1819 by a British trading compa-
self-reliance. defense, Singapore began a new era of lonely
clude two violin
ny, Singapore came under direct British rule in
aree symphonies,
1867. Free trade and (until 1930) unrestricted
1. The Land
1 music, and over
immigration made it a prosperous colony with a
piano composer
largely Chinese population. Singapore was also
Singapore consists of the main island and 54
through his im-
Britain's most strongly fortified naval base in
nearby islets. Its only natural resources are its
chen (Rustle of
Asia, but it fell helplessly to a rearward attack by
people, its favorable location, and its sheltered
Mountain, with a
the Japanese army during World War II.
deepwater harbor.
Berg) by Dora
In the mid-1960's, Singapore became one of
Physical Features and Climate. Singapore Island
1. In 1920-1921
history's rare examples of involuntary nation-
is situated at the mouth of the funnel-shaped
chool of Music,
hood. Internally self-governing since 1959, it
Strait of Malacca (Melaka), the interocean water-
in Oslo on Dec.
had been a founding member of the federation of
Malaysia, created in 1963 by former British de-
Ludwig (1842-
pendencies in Southeast Asia. On Aug. 9, 1965,
INDIA
CHINA
1922), were well-
the prime minister of Singapore wept as he re-
BURMA
BAY
THAI-
LAND
INFORMATION HIGHLIGHTS
OF
VIETNAM
ve form. A sine
Area: 239.5 square miles (620 sq km).
BENGAL
SOUTH
PHILIPPINES
h as one repre-
Elevations: Highest point-Bukit Timah (581 feet, or
current, in the
177 meters); lowest point-sea level.
CHINA
b x. Sine waves
Population: (1980 census) 2,074,507.
SEA
nce the graph of
Capital and Largest City: Singapore.
Name of Nationals: Singaporeans.
nic motion takes
Major Languages: Malay, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil,
Equator
SINGAPORE
English (all official).
o ELECTRICITY-
'OURIER SERIES;
Major Religious Groups: Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim,
Christian, Hindu.
BORNEO
ng-Current Gen-
Monetary Unit: Singapore dollar.
SINGAPORE
TRIGONOMETRY-
For Singapore's flag, see under FLAG, both illus-
0
tration and text.
800 Mi.
NYIONI
IONI
NDONEISIA
AN
JAVA
0
800 Km.
OCEAN
839
3. TI
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the 2
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Th
use th
differe
© ADAM WOOLFITT/WOODFIN CAMP
fosteri
An older shopping street preserves the atmosphere of Singapore's bygone colonial days.
as the
Lingu:
way between the Indonesian island of Sumatra
tions made in 1961 by a United Nations survey
al lang
to Mar
and Peninsular Malaysia. The strait provides
team, a crash program of industrialization was
dren S
the shortest connection between the Indian
begun. Dramatic progress resulted as model in-
main 1
Ocean and the South China Sea of the Pacific
dustrial estates were built, the large Jurong fa-
Sin
Ocean. Separating the island from the Malay
cility becoming a national showcase. Singa-
and de
Peninsula is Johor Strait, which is narrow
pore's success in attracting foreign investment in
tion.
enough to be spanned by a road, rail, and water-
export-oriented industries was attributed to
scholar
pipeline causeway
sound and aggressive planning, central location,
ment's
At its greatest extent, Singapore Island mea-
political stability, an excellent service infrastruc-
ture, and the availability of skilled workpower.
trainin:
sures 27 miles (43 km) from east to west and 14
official
miles (22.5 km) from north to south. Its area of
As the manufacturing sector developed, the
221 square miles (572 sq km), about the size of
government encouraged investors to establish in-
have pl
the nat
Chicago, accounts for 92% of the national territo-
dustries that required more skill and knowledge,
ry. Granitic central hills reach a maximum ele-
paid better wages, and turned out products with
Sing
most CO
vation of 581 feet (177 meters). The coastal low-
a higher value added by manufacturing. The
lands are deeply indented and in many places
result was a shift from labor-intensive industries
ing. M
swampy. Soils are generally low in fertility.
such as clothing and wood products.
public
Because Singapore lies only 90 miles (145
The main production categories are oil refin-
ment C(
km) north of the equator and has no great eleva-
ing, shipbuilding and repair, electrical and elec-
quarter:
erected
tions, its climate is tropical. Temperature, rela-
tronic equipment, nonelectrical machinery,
All race
tive humidity, and rainfall are high, and seasonal
chemicals, foods and beverages, and printing and
variation is slight. The jungle that once covered
publishing. Singapore is a world leader in ship
housing
Singapore Island is now largely cleared, so that
repair and in the refining of oil and petroleum
4. Histo
little wildlife remains.
products. Its electronics industry, a growth
Alth
leader, has turned from the labor-intensive as-
2. The Economy
ends re
sembly of components to the manufacture of
on the is
Trade, together with services such as ship-
computers, calculators, telecommunications
equipment, and medical instruments.
Singapo
ping, storage, banking, insurance, and tele-
communications have given Singaporeans the
Singapore ranks among the world's busiest
glishmar
Raffles a
reputation of being the most highly skilled
seaports. Besides exporting or reexporting man-
middlemen of Asia. Entrepôt activity, the tradi-
ufactured goods, it enjoys a large entrepôt trade
tan of J
in primary commodities such as rubber, grain,
Compan
tional mainstay of the economy, brought prosper-
the foun
ity and a standard of living unmatched by any
coffee, and spices. Its chief imports for domestic
nation in eastern Asia except Japan and Brunei.
use are petroleum, machinery, and transportation
ing the
into a fre
When Singapore became self-governing in
equipment. Although the country imports most
1959, its leaders recognized that the commercial
of its food, that category accounts for less than
al impor
British
sector alone could not sustain the island's eco-
10% of total imports. Singapore's chief trading
conflictir
nomic growth in the face of rapid population
partners are the United States, Japan, Malaysia,
Dutch Ti
increase and accelerated competition from
the European Economic Community, and (for oil
istration
neighboring countries. Following recommenda-
imports) the Middle East.
840
SINGAPORE: The People-History and Government
841
3. The People
Company to the British India office in 1858.
In 1970, when the population of Singapore
The British colonial office began in 1867 to ad-
reached 2 million, the rate of natural increase
minister the island directly-along with Pirang
was so high that the population was expected to
(Panang) and Melaka (Malacca) on the western
double by the year 2000. However, the govern-
side of the Malay Peninsula-as the Crown Col-
ment's vigorous family-planning program suc-
ony of the Straits Settlements. Even before
ceeded in reducing growth rates substantially,
1869, when the opening of the Suez Canal mark-
and the projected population for the last year of
edly increased East-West commerce, Singapore
the 20th century was revised to 3 million. Immi-
was thriving as a major port. The island had
gration is severely restricted. The majority of
already become an important link in Britain's
the people live in the city of Singapore on the
eastern empire, supporting a population of ap-
island's southern shore.
proximately 100,000, mainly Chinese.
Chinese make up more than 75% of the pop-
Britain developed a military and naval station
ulation, but this communal category is far from
at Singapore during the early decades of the 20th
homogeneous. Five major dialects are spoken:
century and relied upon it as "the bastion of the
Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, Hainanese, and
Empire," the "Gibraltar of the East." During
Hakka. The Chinese also worship in several
World War II the Japanese proved that Singapore
ways. Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity all
was only a base and not a bastion. After racing
have Chinese adherents.
down the Malay Peninsula in a brilliant cam-
Malays compose about 15% of the population.
paign, Gen. Yamashita Tomoyuki took the "im-
They are united in the use of the Malay language
pregnable" island on Feb. 15, 1942, after a six-
and are virtually unanimous in their allegiance to
day siege. Conquest and occupation by the
the Muslim faith. South Asians account for 6%
Japanese fundamentally disrupted the prewar so-
of the population. Most of them are Hindus or
ciety and marked the beginning of the end of
Muslims, and most use Tamil as their home lan-
British colonial rule.
guage. The remainder of the population is be-
When the British returned at the war's end,
wilderingly diverse, comprising people from all
Singapore was made a separate crown colony. It
over the globe.
was granted internal self-government in 1959.
The government of Singapore determined to
The socialist People's Action Party (PAP) won 43
use the linguistic, religious, and other cultural
of the 51 legislative seats in the first general
differences of its people to the advantage of all,
elections in 1959, thereby capturing decisive
CAMP
fostering mutual respect and toleration for others
control of the government. Lee Kuan Yew be-
as the cornerstone of a new Singaporean identity.
came Singapore's first prime minister.
Linguistic policy designated Malay as the nation-
Independence and Federation. In September
al language but accorded equal and official status
1963, after a local referendum, Singapore
to Mandarin Chinese, Tamil, and English. Chil-
achieved independence by becoming one of the
was
dren study English and one of the other three
14 states in the new federation of Malaysia. Just
in-
main languages in school.
fa-
23 months later, on Aug. 9, 1965, severe internal
Singapore is proud of its high literacy rate
inga-
and devotes a large share of its budget to educa-
in
tion. At the National University of Singapore,
Tiger Balm Garden, one of Singapore's popular leisure
to
scholars sometimes grumble about the govern-
attractions, is a park devoted to Chinese folkiore.
BLUMEBILD/H. ARMSTRONG ROBERTS
ment's emphasis on vocational and technical
training at the expense of academic studies, but
official spokesmen insist that knowledge must
the
in-
have practical applications to the development of
the nation.
edge,
Singapore has conducted one of the world's
with
The
most comprehensive experiments in public hous-
ing. More than two thirds of the people live in
stries
public accommodations, mainly high-rise apart-
refin-
ment complexes. The majority own their living
quarters. Whole new satellite towns have been
elec-
erected as communities that are self sufficient.
and
All races are encouraged to mingle in the new
housing settlements.
ship
leum
4. History and Government
rowth
Although Chinese chronicles and Malay leg
as-
of
ends recall a city named Temasek ("sea town")
on the island during the 13th and 14th centuries,
Singapore's modern history begins with an En-
glishman, Thomas Stamford Raffles. In 1819,
Raffles acquired the island from the Malay Sul-
man-
tan of Johor on behalf of the British East India
trade
Company. With extraordinary foresight he laid
grain,
the foundations for a great modern city, envisag-
ing the transformation of a tiny fishing village
most
into a free-trade emporium that would have glob-
than
al importance.
British Rule. After settling the Netherlands
conflicting claim to the island by the Anglo-
aysia,
for
oil
Dutch Treaty of 1824, Britain allowed the admin-
istration of Singapore to pass from the East India
842
SINGER-SINGING
conflict resulted in Singapore's separation from
SINGER, Isaac Bashevis (1904-
),
American
SIN
the federation. The island became an indepen-
author, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for lit-
om
dent republic within the Commonwealth of Na-
erature in 1978. Most of his fiction is rooted in
Pot
tions.
the Jewish villages (shtetls) of Poland, although
ish
The Republic of Singapore. Singapore's political
several works concern the Jewish experience in
Th:
system is based on the British model of parlia-
America. He composed in Yiddish and super-
but
mentary democracy. A single-chamber elected
vised translation into English.
SOC
Parliament is headed by the majority party lead-
Singer was born in Leoncin, Poland, on Nov.
equ
er, who, as prime minister, forms a cabinet that is
21, 1904, of a rabbinical family. His traditional
responsible to Parliament. Parliament also el-
education was influenced by Hasidic mysticism
Pro
ects a president for a four-year term to perform
and the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah). In
yea
ceremonial duties.
1923 he abandoned his religious studies to be-
im)
The action-oriented PAP was driven by so-
come a proofreader and translator for a Yiddish
18t
cialist ideals toward high goals and tight time-
newspaper in Warsaw. He moved to the United
lan-
tables. With British withdrawal of all but a
States in 1935 and became a citizen in 1943. He
wh-
token military force from the area in 1971, with
worked as a journalist for the Jewish Daily For-
the U.S. disengagement from Vietnam, and with
ward, which serialized his fiction.
exp
the increased acceptance among the world pow-
Singer's works typically explore the tensions
pro
ers of the People's Republic of China, non-Com-
between orthodox and secular values, the sacred
al
munist Singapore felt it must race the clock to
and the profane, the emotions and the intellect,
Ge
build enough autonomous vitality to withstand
and alienation. His first novel, Satan in Goray
mo:
regional absorption or big-power hegemony.
(1935), tells of Cossack depredations against a
clu
Britain's once total defense commitment to Sin-
Polish shtetl but is essentially about the loss of
gapore was replaced by a nominal five-power
faith of its residents. Other novels include The
pro
defense arrangement involving Singapore, Ma-
Family Moskat (1950), The Manor (1967), and
ben
laysia, Britain, New Zealand, and Australia.
The Estate (1969), all on the theme of genera-
pre
Singapore is deeply interdependent with In-
tional conflict; The Magician of Lublin (1960);
tion
donesia and the Malaysian federation in a Malay,
Enemies: A Love Story (1972); and The Penitent
spe-
Muslim archipelago and peninsula that has a
(1983). Singer's numerous short stories appear
the
marked suspicion of Chinese, if not an anti-Chi-
in such collections as Gimpel the Fool (1957),
the
nese atmosphere. PAP leaders were aware that
Short Friday (1964), The Seance (1968), A Crown
The
some Malays viewed the success of Singapore as
of Feathers (1973), Old Love (1979), The Image
sior
the partial fulfillment of the ancient Malay night-
(1985), and The Death of Methuselah (1988).
cau.
mare of Chinese domination. Such Malay fears
Singer also wrote a series of memoirs: In My
it si
had contributed to Singapore's eviction from Ma-
Father's Court (1966), A Little Boy in Search of
was
laysia and had helped start and sustain racial riot-
God (1976), A Young Man in Search of Love
ing in Malaysia in 1969. Some of the sparks of
(1978), and Lost in America (1981).
Ge
the 1969 communal violence had spilled over
ISRAEL JOSHUA SINGER (1893-1944), his broth-
erty
the causeway into Singapore before they were
er, was also a Yiddish writer. His best-known
turl
snuffed out with mass arrests.
novel is The Brothers Ashkenazi (1936).
of t
Amid these threatening undercurrents, the
exc
leaders of Singapore planned against possible
Further Reading: Alexander, Edward, Isaac Bashevis
future dangers. With the help of Israeli military
Singer (G. K. Hall 1980); Allentuck, Marcia, ed., The
leas
Achievement of Isaac Bashevis Singer (So. III. Univ. Press
(
advisers, the government created an efficient
1969); Miller, David N., Fear of Fiction: Narrative Strate-
proj
self-defense system for the island. National ser-
gies in the Works of Isaac Bashevis Singer (State Univ. of
N.Y. Press 1985); Sinclair, Clive, The Brothers Singer
tota
vice was made compulsory for all men and
(Schocken 1983).
ticu
women between the ages of 18 and 45.
wer
Lee Kuan Yew captained one of the world's
SINGER, Isaac Merrit (1811-1875), American in-
sinc
most able cabinets and placed heavy emphasis in
ventor who developed the first practical home
ness
government on intellectuals and university facul-
sewing machine. Singer was born in Pittstown,
the
ty. Despite the forms of British parliamentary
N.Y., on Oct. 27, 1811. He left home at the age
cult
democracy, he held tight reign over a virtually
of 12 and for many years was an itinerant me-
capi
one-party state. The PAP's only significant op-
chanic. In 1851, Singer patented a sewing ma-
I
position-the radical Barisan Socialist Party-
chine capable of producing continuous stitching
poir.
was driven underground or to imprisonment.
both straight and curved. With Edward Clark he
cono
For 16 years, until November 1981, the PAP held
formed I. M. Singer & Company and began to
beir
all of the seats in Parliament.
produce the machine.
State
The press was kept in line by government
Between 1851 and 1863, Singer received 20
U.S.
licensing, the labor unions were made politically
patents for improvements on his machine, and
and
docile, and the intellectuals were harnessed into
the firm, now known as the Singer Manufactur-
of th
"practical" work in the interest of the state. But
ing Company, became the world's leading manu-
den
the PAP tempered its self-described "rugged so-
facturer of sewing machines. To encourage
also
ciety" or competitive meritocracy" with en-
sales among the working classes, Singer and
lightened impartiality and flexibility. Above all
Clark devised a system of installment payments,
SING
it legitimized its rule with dramatically success-
and the company was the first to take trade-ins of
com
ful results in housing, education, public health,
old machines toward the purchase of new ones.
ing
and a largely free-enterprise economy
Singer retired from active direction of the
The
FELIX V. GAGLIANO, Ohio University
business in 1863 and spent his remaining years
play
in Europe. He died in Torquay, England, on
the 1
Further Reading: Drysdale, John, Singapore: Struggle
for Success (Times Books Intl. 1984); Hassan, Riaz, ed., Sin-
July 23, 1875. See also SEWING MACHINE.
mon
gapore: Society in Transition (Oxford 1976); Nair, C. V.
comi
Devan, Socialism that Works: The Singapore Way (Federal
Publications 1977); Quah, Jon S. T., Government and Poli-
SINGH, Govind. See GOVIND SINGH.
were
tics of Singapore (Oxford 1985); Turnbull, C. M., A History
spiel
of Singapore, 1819-1975, 5th ed. (Oxford 1984).
SINGING. See VOICE.
to G.
unclopidia
m Baluchistan. Sir Charles
for Britain in 1843, trans-
essage reading "Peccavi,"
:ed. The conquest was
However, Sind became
linguistically, as well as
itish. It was administered
dency until 1937, when it
ovince.
en referred to as a "caul-
has experienced an ex-
f populations since the
At least 16 distinct types
eir mark on the region,
cultures, languages, arts,
Perhaps the greatest im-
Arabs. Their influence-
ultural-can be seen in
indhi language and cus-
ar, Arabic script, camel
ong hair, and the cultiva-
as the provincial capital
e seat of the University
100 km) east of Karachi,
osque, built by the Mu-
iry. It is considered to
surviving example of
ndian subcontinent.
nily of Maratha rulers in
vas Gwalior. See also
ALLEN GREEN/PHOTO RESEARCHERS
Singapore is Southeast Asia's busiest commercial and industrial center.
tian (1856-1941), Nor-
ianist. He was born in
SINGAPORE, sing'e-pôr, the smallest nation in
luctantly proclaimed independence in the wake
56, and studied in Chris-
Southeast Asia. Essentially an island city-state,
of his state's eviction from the federal union.
e Leipzig Conservatory,
it is situated off the southern tip of the Malay
Malaya, the other major partner, had from the
and Munich. He then
Peninsula athwart the northern, preferred pas-
outset felt uneasy in association with its southern
eer in Christiania, aided
sageway between the Indian and Pacific oceans.
neighbor because of the island's predominantly
1 grant from the Norwe-
Thus it commands a strategic threshold of inter-
Chinese population and formally socialist gov-
national commerce that for centuries has been
ernment. Now rejected by the federation and
ognition with his Piano
coveted by regional and, especially, nonregional
soon all but abandoned by Britain in matters of
subsequently composed
powers.
defense, Singapore began a new era of lonely
rms, especially for the
Founded in 1819 by a British trading compa-
self-reliance.
orks include two violin
ny, Singapore came under direct British rule in
1867. Free trade and (until 1930) unrestricted
1. The Land
erto, three symphonies,
choral music, and over
immigration made it a prosperous colony with a
Singapore consists of the main island and 54
is as a piano composer
largely Chinese population. Singapore was also
nearby islets. Its only natural resources are its
largely through his im-
Britain's most strongly fortified naval base in
people, its favorable location, and its sheltered
ingsrauschen (Rustle of
Asia, but it fell helplessly to a rearward attack by
deepwater harbor.
Holy Mountain, with a
the Japanese army during World War II.
Physical Features and Climate. Singapore Island
eilige Berg) by Dora
In the mid-1960's, Singapore became one of
is situated at the mouth of the funnel-shaped
in 1914. In 1920-1921
history's rare examples of involuntary nation-
Strait of Malacca (Melaka), the interocean water-
nan School of Music,
hood. Internally self-governing since 1959, it
died in Oslo on Dec.
had been a founding member of the federation of
Malaysia, created in 1963 by former British de-
CHINA
Otto Ludwig (1842-
pendencies in Southeast Asia. On Aug. 9, 1965,
INDIA
the prime minister of Singapore wept as he re-
BURMA
1846-1922), were well-
BAY
THAI-
LAND
Y.
OF
VIETNAM
INFORMATION HIGHLIGHTS
BENGAL
SOUTH
tal wave form. A sine
Area: 239.5 square miles (620 sq km).
Elevations: Highest Bukit Timah (581 feet, or
CHINA
ne, such as one repre-
177 meters); lowest point-sea level.
SEA
age or current, in the
Population: (1980 census) 2,074,507.
= a sin b x. Sine waves
Capital and Largest City: Singapore.
Y
ysis, since the graph of
Name of Nationals: Singaporeans.
SINGAPORE
Major Languages: Malay, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil,
Equator
harmonic motion takes
English (all official).
See also ELECTRICITY-
Major Religious Groups: Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim,
Christian, Hindu.
SUMATRA
BORNEO
its; FOURIER SERIES;
Monetary Unit: Singapore dollar.
SINGAPORE
ternating-Current Gen-
NDONESIA
YSIS; TRIGONOMETRY-
For Singapore's flag, see under FLAG, both illus-
0
800 Mi.
tration and text.
INDIAN
JAVA
actions.
0
800 Km.
OCEAN
839
3. The People
In 1970, when the
reached 2 million, the
was so high that the po
double by the year 200
ment's vigorous family
ceeded in reducing gr
and the projected popu
the 20th century was re'
gration is severely rest
the people live in the
island's southern shore
Chinese make up m
ulation, but this comm
homogeneous. Five m
Hokkien, Cantonese, T
Hakka. The Chinese
ways. Buddhism, Tao
have Chinese adherent
Malays compose abc
They are united in the 1
and are virtually unanin
the Muslim faith. Sout
of the population. Mos
Muslims, and most use
guage. The remainder
wilderingly diverse, CO
over the globe.
The government of
use the linguistic, relig
© ADAM WOOLFITT/WOODFI CAMP
differences of its people
An older shopping street preserves the atmosphere of Singapore's bygone colonial days.
fostering mutual respect
as the cornerstone of a n
Linguistic policy design
way between the Indonesian island of Sumatra
tions made in 1961 by a United Nations survey
al language but accorde
and Peninsular Malaysia. The strait provides
team, a crash program of industrialization was
to Mandarin Chinese, T
the shortest connection between the Indian
begun. Dramatic progress resulted as model in-
dren study English and
Ocean and the South China Sea of the Pacific
dustrial estates were built, the large Jurong fa-
main languages in scho
Ocean. Separating the island from the Malay
cility becoming a national showcase. Singa-
Singapore is proud
Peninsula is Johor Strait, which is narrow
pore's success in attracting foreign investment in
and devotes a large shai
enough to be spanned by a road, rail, and water-
export-oriented industries was attributed to
tion. At the National
pipeline causeway.
sound and aggressive planning, central location,
scholars sometimes gri
At its greatest extent, Singapore Island mea-
political stability, an excellent service infrastruc-
ment's emphasis on
sures 27 miles (43 km) from east to west and 14
ture, and the availability of skilled workpower.
training at the expense
miles (22.5 km) from north to south. Its area of
As the manufacturing sector developed, the
official spokesmen insi
221 square miles (572 sq km), about the size of
government encouraged investors to establish in-
have practical applicati
Chicago, accounts for 92% of the national territo-
dustries that required more skill and knowledge,
the nation.
ry. Granitic central hills reach a maximum ele-
paid better wages, and turned out products with
Singapore has cond
vation of 581 feet (177 meters). The coastal low-
a higher value added by manufacturing. The
most comprehensive ex;
lands are deeply indented and in many places
result was a shift from labor-intensive industries
ing. More than two th
swampy. Soils are generally low in fertility.
such as clothing and wood products.
public accommodations
Because Singapore lies only 90 miles (145
The main production categories are oil refin-
ment complexes. The
km) north of the equator and has no great eleva-
ing, shipbuilding and repair, electrical and elec-
quarters. Whole new
tions, its climate is tropical. Temperature, rela-
tronic equipment, nonelectrical machinery,
erected as communitie
tive humidity, and rainfall are high, and seasonal
chemicals, foods and beverages, and printing and
All races are encourag
variation is slight. The jungle that once covered
publishing. Singapore is a world leader in ship
housing settlements.
Singapore Island is now largely cleared, so that
repair and in the refining of oil and petroleum
little wildlife remains.
products. Its electronics industry, a growth
4. History and Governme
2. The Economy
leader, has turned from the labor-intensive as-
Although Chinese c
sembly of components to the manufacture of
ends recall a city name
Trade, together with services such as ship-
computers, calculators, telecommunications
on the island during the
ping, storage, banking, insurance, and tele-
equipment, and medical instruments.
Singapore's modern hi
communications have given Singaporeans the
Singapore ranks among the world's busiest
glishman, Thomas Sta
reputation of being the most highly skilled
seaports. Besides exporting or reexporting man-
Raffles acquired the isi
middlemen of Asia. Entrepôt activity, the tradi-
ufactured goods, it enjoys a large entrepôt trade
tan of Johor on behalf
tional mainstay of the economy, brought prosper-
in primary commodities such as rubber, grain,
Company. With extra
ity and a standard of living unmatched by any
coffee, and spices. Its chief imports for domestic
the foundations for a g'
nation in eastern Asia except Japan and Brunei.
use are petroleum, machinery, and transportation
ing the transformation
When Singapore became self-governing in
equipment. Although the country imports most
into a free-trade emport
1959, its leaders recognized that the commercial
of its food, that category accounts for less than
al importance.
sector alone could not sustain the island's eco-
10% of total imports. Singapore's chief trading
British Rule. After
nomic growth in the face of rapid population
partners are the United States, Japan, Malaysia,
conflicting claim to th
increase and accelerated competition from
the European Economic Community, and (for oil
Dutch Treaty of 1824, B
neighboring countries. Following recommenda-
imports) the Middle East.
istration of Singapore to
840
SINGAPORE: The People-History and Government
841
3. The People
In 1970, when the population of Singapore
Company to the British India office in 1858.
reached 2 million, the rate of natural increase
The British colonial office began in 1867 to ad-
was so high that the population was expected to
minister the island directly-along with Pirang
double by the year 2000. However, the govern-
(Panang) and Melaka (Malacca) on the western
ment's vigorous family-planning program suc-
side of the Malay Peninsula-as the Crown Col-
ceeded in reducing growth rates substantially,
ony of the Straits Settlements. Even before
and the projected population for the last year of
1869, when the opening of the Suez Canal mark-
the 20th century was revised to 3 million. Immi-
edly increased East-West commerce, Singapore
gration is severely restricted. The majority of
was thriving as a major port. The island had
the people live in the city of Singapore on the
already become an important link in Britain's
island's southern shore.
eastern empire, supporting a population of ap-
Chinese make up more than 75% of the pop-
proximately 100,000, mainly Chinese.
ulation, but this communal category is far from
Britain developed a military and naval station
homogeneous. Five major dialects are spoken:
at Singapore during the early decades of the 20th
Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, Hainanese, and
century and relied upon it as "the bastion of the
Hakka. The Chinese also worship in several
Empire," the "Gibraltar of the East." During
ways. Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity all
World War II the Japanese proved that Singapore
have Chinese adherents.
was only a base and not a bastion. After racing
Malays compose about 15% of the population.
down the Malay Peninsula in a brilliant cam-
They are united in the use of the Malay language
paign, Gen. Yamashita Tomoyuki took the "im-
and are virtually unanimous in their allegiance to
pregnable" island on Feb. 15, 1942, after a six-
the Muslim faith. South Asians account for 6%
day siege. Conquest and occupation by the
of the population. Most of them are Hindus or
Japanese fundamentally disrupted the prewar so-
Muslims, and most use Tamil as their home lan-
ciety and marked the beginning of the end of
British colonial rule.
guage. The remainder of the population is be-
wilderingly diverse, comprising people from all
When the British returned at the war's end,
over the globe.
Singapore was made a separate crown colony. It
The government of Singapore determined to
was granted internal self-government in 1959.
use the linguistic, religious, and other cultural
The socialist People's Action Party (PAP) won 43
ADAM WOOLFITT/WOODFIN CAMP
differences of its people to the advantage of all,
of the 51 legislative seats in the first general
onial days.
fostering mutual respect and toleration for others
elections in 1959, thereby capturing decisive
as the cornerstone of a new Singaporean identity.
control of the government. Lee Kuan Yew be-
Linguistic policy designated Malay as the nation-
came Singapore's first prime minister.
al language but accorded equal and official status
Independence and Federation. In September
nited Nations survey
to Mandarin Chinese, Tamil, and English. Chil-
1963, after a local referendum, Singapore
industrialization was
dren study English and one of the other three
achieved independence by becoming one of the
resulted as model in-
14 states in the new federation of Malaysia. Just
the large Jurong fa-
main languages in school.
Singapore is proud of its high literacy rate
23 months later, on Aug. 9, 1965, severe internal
al showcase. Singa-
foreign investment in
and devotes a large share of its budget to educa-
was attributed to
tion. At the National University of Singapore,
Tiger Balm Garden, one of Singapore's popular leisure
hing, central location,
scholars sometimes grumble about the govern-
attractions, is a park devoted to Chinese folkiore.
ent service infrastruc-
ment's emphasis on vocational and technical
BLUMEBILD/H. ARMSTRONG ROBERTS
skilled workpower.
training at the expense of academic studies, but
ector developed, the
official spokesmen insist that knowledge must
vestors to establish in-
have practical applications to the development of
skill and knowledge,
the nation.
ned out products with
Singapore has conducted one of the world's
manufacturing. The
most comprehensive experiments in public hous-
'r-intensive industries
ing. More than two thirds of the people live in
products.
public accommodations, mainly high-rise apart-
ategories are oil refin-
ment complexes. The majority own their living
ir, electrical and elec-
quarters. Whole new satellite towns have been
lectrical machinery,
erected as communities that are self sufficient.
ages, and printing and
All races are encouraged to mingle in the new
1 world leader in ship
housing settlements.
of oil and petroleum
4. History and Government
industry, a growth
he labor-intensive as-
Although Chinese chronicles and Malay leg-
the manufacture of
ends recall a city named Temasek ("sea town")
telecommunications
on the island during the 13th and 14th centuries,
istruments.
Singapore's modern history begins with an En-
g the world's busiest
glishman, Thomas Stamford Raffles. In 1819,
ig or reexporting man-
Raffles acquired the island from the Malay Sul-
a large entrepôt trade
tan of Johor on behalf of the British East India
uch as rubber, grain,
Company. With extraordinary foresight he laid
if imports for domestic
the foundations for a great modern city, envisag-
ery, and transportation
ing the transformation of a tiny fishing village
country imports most
into a free-trade emporium that would have glob-
accounts for less than
al importance.
gapore's chief trading
British Rule. After settling the Netherlands'
ates, Japan, Malaysia,
conflicting claim to the island by the Anglo-
ommunity, and (for oil
Dutch Treaty of 1824, Britain allowed the admin-
istration of Singapore to pass from the East India
842
SINGER-SINGING
conflict resulted in Singapore's separation from
SINGER, Isaac Bashevis (1904-
),
American
SINGLE TAX, a reform pro
the federation. The island became an indepen-
author, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for lit-
omist Henry George in
dent republic within the Commonwealth of Na-
erature in 1978. Most of his fiction is rooted in
Poverty (1879). George
tions.
the Jewish villages (shtetls) of Poland, although
ish all taxation save tl.
The Republic of Singapore. Singapore's political
several works concern the Jewish experience in
This was developed not
system is based on the British model of parlia-
America. He composed in Yiddish and super-
but as a method for achi
mentary democracy. A single-chamber elected
vised translation into English.
social goal, that of raising
Parliament is headed/by the majority party lead-
Singer was born in Leoncin, Poland, on Nov.
equal rights in land.
er, who, as prime minister, forms a cabinet that is
21, 1904, of a rabbinical family. His traditional
The term "single I
responsible to Parliament. Parliament also el-
education was influenced by Hasidic mysticism
Progress and Poverty bu
ects a president for a four-year term to perform
and the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah). In
years later. Actually, the
ceremonial duties.
1923 he abandoned his religious studies to be-
impôt unique of the Fr.
The action-oriented PAP was driven by so-
come a proofreader and translator for a Yiddish
18th century. They, too.
cialist ideals toward high goals and tight time-
newspaper in Warsaw. He moved to the United
land only, but George k
tables. With British withdrawal of all but a
States in 1935 and became a citizen in 1943. He
when he wrote Progress
token military force from the area in 1971, with
worked as a journalist for the Jewish Daily For-
Theory. The purpose
the U.S. disengagement from Vietnam, and with
ward, which serialized his fiction.
explain the paradox of
the increased acceptance among the world pow-
Singer's works typically explore the tensions
progress, and to solve the
ers of the People's Republic of China, non-Com-
between orthodox and secular values, the sacred
al depressions alternat-
munist Singapore felt it must race the clock to
and the profane, the emotions and the intellect,
George saw the answer
build enough autonomous vitality to withstand
and alienation. His first novel, Satan in Goray
monopolization of land-
regional absorption or big-power hegemony.
(1935), tells of Cossack depredations against a
cluding natural resource
Britain's once total defense commitment to Sin-
Polish shtetl but is essentially about the loss of
The rent of land is
gapore was replaced by a nominal five-power
faith of its residents. Other novels include The
progress, said George, ai
defense arrangement involving Singapore, Ma-
Family Moskat (1950), The Manor (1967), and
benefit while the wages
laysia, Britain, New Zealand, and Australia.
The Estate (1969), all on the theme of genera-
Singapore is deeply interdependent with In-
pressed. Rising rent ei
tional conflict; The Magician of Lublin (1960);
tion, which accelerates t
donesia and the Malaysian federation in a Malay,
Enemies: A Love Story (1972); and The Penitent
speculative rents that ar
Muslim archipelago and peninsula that has a
(1983). Singer's numerous short stories appear
the ranks of labor and C:
marked suspicion of Chinese, if not an anti-Chi-
in such collections as Gimpel the Fool (1957),
nese atmosphere. PAP leaders were aware that
them and still employ
Short Friday (1964), The Seance (1968), A Crown
These victims then stop
some Malays viewed the success of Singapore as
of Feathers (1973), Old Love (1979), The Image
the partial fulfillment of the ancient Malay night-
sion occurs. Though G
(1985), and The Death of Methuselah (1988).
mare of Chinese domination. Such Malay fears
causes of depression, suc
Singer also wrote a series of memoirs: In My
had contributed to Singapore's eviction from Ma-
it situations, he maintain
Father's Court (1966), A Little Boy in Search of
laysia and had helped start and sustain racial riot-
was the basic and ever-p
God (1976), A Young Man in Search of Love
ing in Malaysia in 1969. Some of the sparks of
As his remedy for p
(1978), and Lost in America (1981).
George said, "We must n
the 1969 communal violence had spilled over
ISRAEL JOSHUA SINGER (1893-1944), his broth-
the causeway into Singapore before they were
erty. He proposed to
er, was also a Yiddish writer. His best-known
snuffed out with mass arrests.
turbed, but to take, throu
novel is The Brothers Ashkenazi (1936).
of the economic rent (
Amid these threatening undercurrents, the
leaders of Singapore planned against possible
Further Reading: Alexander, Edward, Isaac Basheris
exceeding that from the
future dangers. With the help of Israeli military
Singer (G. K. Hall 1980); Allentuck, Marcia, ed., The
least productive.
Achievement of Isaac Bashevis Singer (So. III. Univ. Press
advisers, the government created an efficient
Criticisms. Early critic
1969); Miller, David N., Fear of Fiction: Narrative Strate-
self-defense system for the island. National ser-
gies in the Works of Isaac Bashevis Singer (State Univ. of
proposal argued that it и
N.Y. Press 1985); Sinclair, Clive, The Brothers Singer
total burden of taxation
vice was made compulsory for all men and
(Schocken 1983).
women between the ages of 18 and 45.
ticularly on rural lando
Lee Kuan Yew captained one of the world's
were poor farmers. The
SINGER, Isaac Merrit (1811-1875), American in-
most able cabinets and placed heavy emphasis in
since the tax applies to e
ventor who developed the first practical home
ness rents-rents due to
government on intellectuals and university facul-
sewing machine. Singer was born in Pittstown,
ty. Despite the forms of British parliamentary
the land-the plan migh
N.Y., on Oct. 27, 1811. He left home at the age
democracy, he held tight reign over a virtually
culty of making distinct
of 12 and for many years was an itinerant me-
one-party state. The PAP's only significant op
capital values.
chanic. In 1851, Singer patented a sewing ma-
position-the radical Barisan Socialist Party-
Later opponents of
chine capable of producing continuous stitching
was driven underground or to imprisonment.
point to changed conditi
both straight and curved. With Edward Clark he
For 16 years, until November 1981, the PAP held
conceived in a period W
formed I. M. Singer & Company and began to
all of the seats in Parliament.
being made from land
produce the machine.
The press was kept in line by government
States. Subsequently, t
Between 1851 and 1863, Singer received 20
licensing, the labor unions were made politically
U.S. measures acted as lo
patents for improvements on his machine, and
and the rent of land beca
docile, and the intellectuals were harnessed into
the firm, now known as the Singer Manufactur-
"practical" work in the interest of the state. But
of the national income, I
ing Company, became the world's leading manu-
the PAP tempered its self-described "rugged so-
den of increasingly heav
facturer of sewing machines. To encourage
ciety" or "competitive meritocracy" with en-
also GEORGE, HENRY.
sales among the working classes, Singer and
lightened impartiality and flexibility. Above all
Clark devised a system of installment payments,
it legitimized its rule with dramatically success-
SINGSPIEL, zing' shpël,
and the company was the first to take trade-ins of
ful results in housing, education, public health,
comic, loosely defined a
old machines toward the purchase of new ones.
and a largely free-enterprise economy.
ing of spoken dialogue 1
Singer retired from active direction of the
FELIX V. GAGLIANO, Ohio University
The term is German, n
business in 1863 and spent his remaining years
play." Popular in Germ
Further Reading: Drysdale, John, Singapore: Struggle
in Europe. He died in Torquay, England, on
the 18th century, the Sin
for Success (Times Books Intl. 1984); Hassan, Riaz, ed., Sin-
July 23, 1875. See also SEWING MACHINE.
mon with English ballad
gapore: Society in Transition (Oxford 1976); Nair, C. V.
Devan, Socialism that Works: The Singapore Way (Federal
comique. Imitations oi
Publications 1977); Quah, Jon S. T., Government and Poli-
SINGH, Govind. See GOVIND SINGH.
were, in fact, the beginnt
tics of Singapore (Oxford 1985); Turnbull, C. M., A History
spiel. In the 1750's, J. (.
of Singapore, 1819-1975, 5th ed. (Oxford 1984).
SINGING. See VOICE.
to German translations of
SINGAPORE International Year Book
Teacher training at non-university level is provided at six
teachers for rural areas.
teacher colleges which include five primary teacher-colleges and
FINANCE
one secondary teacher-college-Milton Margai Teachers College. The
Fourah Bay College and Njala University College are the
primary teacher-training colleges offer a 3-year teacher
constituent Colleges of the University of Sierra Leone. Enrolment
Government Revenue:
certificate course for students with four years secondary
at Fourah Bay College and Njala University College in 1975-76 was
education and those who pass the entrance examination. The Milton
1,016 and 596 respectively. The Institute of Education exists as
Margai Teachers Certificate (H.T.C.) Course is for students with
part of the University of Sierra Leone.
4 G.C.E. '0' Level subjects.
Early in 1970, a commission set up with the approval of
Economic Classification
Holders of the Higher Teachers Certificate are qualified to
Government completed its report on Higher Education in Sierra
teach in the lower classes of secondary schools. The Department
Leone and submitted it to the government. The report formed the
Total
of Education at Fourah Day College and Njala University College
basis of a National Education policy for Sierra Leone.
Transfer Receipts
provide teacher education at graduate level.
The University of Sierra Leone in collaboration with the
Taxes on income
A year's Post Graduate Teacher Programme leading to Diploma in
Ministry of Education carried out the Sierra Leone Education
Taxes on production &
Education is pursued at Fourah Bay College. The Degree Programme
Review which is in substance completed. The Ministry of Education
expenditure
at Njala University College leads to Bachelor of Arts and
coordinates Adult Education Programmes through the National
Other transfer receipts
Bachelor of Science in Education.
Literacy Committee on which all the principal participating
Disposal of Goods &
In 1975-76 Bunumbu Teachers College was granted permission to
organisations in Adult Education are represented.
Services
conduct the HTC (Primary Programme). This course has strong rural
Sales of goods & services
community bias. Moreover, in teacher education, the Bunumbu
RELIGION
from current operations
Project has a purpose of educating and training primary school
Reimbursements for
Sierra Leone 1s Muslim and Christian.
services & sales of lands
Income from Property &
Financial Claims
Interest & dividends
received
Financial claims
Overpayments, refunds &
others
Note: Government revenue
SINGAPORE
Exclude land sales to HC
Source: Ministry of Financ
(MEMBER OF THE COMMONWEALTH)
President - Mr. Wee Kim Wee.
Government Current Expend
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: BG George YeoMinistry of Education:
National Flag - Red over white, halved horizontally in ratio 2:
Dr Tay Eng Soon.
3, at the top of the hoist a crescent moon sided by five stars in
Ministry of Defence: Dr Lee Boon Yang.
a circle, all in white.
Fanctional Classification
Ministers of State:
CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT
Ministry of Community Development: Ch'ng Jit Koon.
Total
Ministry of Cummunications and Ministry of Trde & Industry:-Mai
General Services
Singapore was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819. In 1826,
Bow Tan.
Defence, Justice & Police
Singapore together with Malacca and Penang formed the Straits
Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Home Affairs:
Settlements, with the Governor of Penang in overall
Peter Sung.
Social Services & Community
responsibility of the administration. In 1832, Singapore became
Ministry of Community Development and Ministry of Education:
Education
the administrative centre of the Straits Settlements which
Seet A1 Mee.
Health
remained under the control of the British East Indian Company
Ministry of Health: Dr Aline X Wong.
Community, environment,
until 1867, when Singapore became a British colony. After the
social welfare & other
Japanese occupation from 1942-45, Singapore moved gradually to
AREA AND POPULATION
social services
self-government, which it achieved in 1959. In 1963, it became a
Economic Services
state within the Federation of Malaysia. On 9 August 1965,
The main island of Singapore and the numerous outlying small
Agricultural, non-minera
Singapore ceased to be a part of Malaysia and became an
islands together cover an area of 620.2 square kilometres. The
resources, industrial &
October, 1965.
independent nation; and a member of the Commonwealth on 15
highest hill (Bukit Timah) is 165 metres above sea level and the
The
commercial development
longest river (Sunge1 Seletar) is about 15.0 kilometres long.
Transport & communication
Head of State is the President, elected by parliament for a term
population as at 30 June 1984 was 2,529,100 persons with
Other economic services
members. of five years. The Cabinet is responsible to a parliament of 79
density of 4,078 persons per square kilometer. The population
Public Debt
growth rate has decreased from an average of 2.8% per answer
@callocable
during 1957-1970 to 1.5% during 1970-1980 and further to 1.2
cent per annum during 1980-84. The population growth rate is
Transfer Fund to Development
Mr Lee Kuan Yew has submitted, on 26 November 1990, his letter
of resignation as Prime Minister to the President. He was
among the lowest in the region.
succeeded by Mr Goh Chok Tong.
The population in 1984 comprised 1,935,800 Chinese, 374,
Bots: Government current
Malays, 162,600 Indians and 57,800 persons of other ethek
Serve: Department of Ste
Government (November 1990):
groups. The Chinese constituted 76.5 per cent, the Malays 14.5
per cent, the Indians 6.4 per cent and persons of other ethaic
Prime Minister and Minister of Defence: Goh Chok Tong.
groups the remaining 2.3 per cent of the total population.
Senior Minister (Prime Minister's Office): Lee Kuan Yew.
There were 1,288,700 males and 1,240,400 females in 1983, giving
BANKS
Deputy Prime Minister: Ong Teng Cheong.
a sex ratio of 1,039 males per thousand females. of the
ethnic groups, the Chinese and the Malays had fairly even
188
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade & Industry: BG Lee
SINGA
Hsien Loong.
distribution of 1,015 and 1,067 males per thousand
Minister for National Development: S Dhanabalan.
respectively. The Indians, however, still have an uneven
C
Minister for Education: Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam.
distribution of 1,274 males per thousand females.
Minister for the Environment (also Minister-in-Charge of Muslim
About 24.7 per cent of the population were below 15 years of
BANK LIMI
Affairs): Dr Ahmad Mattar.
and 7.7 per cent were aged 60 years and over. The dependency
BANK LIMIT
Yeo Ning Hong.
Minister for Communications and Second Minister for Defence: Dr
ratio, defined as the ratio of youths below 15 years and elder 15-50
CERG COVER BANK (SOUTH EASTA A
persons aged 60 years and over to the adult population aged
KHIAW BANK LIMITED
Minister for Law and Minister for Home Affairs: Prof S Jayakumar.
years, was 48 per hundred adult population in 1984.
Minister for Finance: Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau.
Singapore is one of the healthiest countries in the world.
tous tables below
Minister for Labour: Lee Yock Suan.
crude death rate which was 20.8 per thousand population is
1943
declined to 13.3 per thousand in 1947 and to 5.2 per thousand 11st
Esternal Trade:
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Community
Development: Wong Kan Seng.
1984. Infant mortality rate in 1984 was 8.8 per thousand
Minister for Health: Yeo Cheow Tong.
births, a marked decline as compared with 87.3 per thousand
1947. The expectation of life at birth in 1980 was 68.7 years
igis or Destination
Country of
The other appointments are as follows:
males and 74.0 years for females.
Senior Ministers of State:
Relaysis East Total Asia
Designd
I
Passippines
i
East
As 1a
506
SINGAPORE
of Sierra are
iversity College
FRANCE
Invernment
Revenue:
ity
ite exists
Million Dollars
up with the approval
Scenomic Classification
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
igher Education
it. The report the
Total
5,491.4
7,146.2
9,008.5
10,510.6
Sierra Leone.
10,267.6
9,397.0
8,333.1
treasfer Receipts
4,125.1
5,263.7
6,237.9
7,148.7
7,671.0
1 collaboration with
6,932.3
5,276.7
Taxes on income
1,898.4
2,634.3
3,248.0
3,523.3
3,568.3
3,006.7
2,231.8
e The Sierra Leone Education the
Ministry of Education
2,035.7
2,368.7
2,698.9
3,076.8
3,525.2
:s through the
3,430.7
2,776.1
191.0
260.7
291.0
resented. principal participating
548.6
577.5
494.9
268.8
gisposal of
services sales of goods & services
833.0
1,403.2
2,037.3
1,953.4
1,306.7
922.0
1,178.6
from current operations
568.0
845.2
924.9
927.9
874.0
688.5
702.1
reimbursements for
services & sales of lands*
265.0
558.0
1,112.4
1,025.5
432.7
from Property &
233.5
476.5
Income Financial Claims
533.3
479.3
733.3
1,408.5
1,289.9
Interest & dividends
1,542.7
1,877.8
Financial received claims
434.7
469.0
724.9
1,398.4
1,242.3
1,529.5
1,851.5
Drerpayments, refunds &
others
98.6
10.3
8.4
10.1
47.6
13.2
26.3
Note: Government revenue refers to receipts credited to Consolidated Revenue Account.
Exclude land sales to HDB amounting to $6,503.1 million in 1986.
Source: Ministry of Finance.
Government Current Expenditure:
YeoMinistry of Education:
Million Dollars
Feactional Classification
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
Jit Koon.
Total
5,170.7
5,798.2
8,428.9
10,150.5
y of Trde & Industry:
General Services
10,625.1
10,575.8
211.5
12,241.5
181.9
278.6
468.8
Defence, Justice & Police
$ 522.3
606.5
411.1
1,321.7
1,350.2
1,618.0
1,724.0
Social & Community
1,972.2
2,574.7
2,364.9
Ministry of Home Affairs:
Services
1,029.8
1,147.7
1,442.3
1,804.9
Education
2,111.5
2,160.8
2,059.1
Ministry of Education:
564.4
631.6
866.7
1,115.1
Realth
1,282.1
1,362.0
223.0
1,349.0
257.3
313.3
342.0
Community, environment,
376.2
419.0
400.6
social welfare & other
social services
242.4
258.8
262.3
347.8
Economic Services
453.2
379.8
309.5
228.1
288.0
383.9
numerous outlying small
346.5
Agricultural, non-mineral
300.1
249.5
230.4
square kilometres. The
resources, industrial &
STATES OF THE WORLD
S above sea level and the
commercial development
65.8
5.0 kilometres long. The
77.0
133.6
85.5
Transport & communication
71.6
83.3
61.0
121.8
529,100 persons with a
159.7
168.7
163.9
Other economic services
141.1
88.0
75.6
40.5
ilometer. The population
51.3
81.6
Public Debt
97.1
87.4
78.2
93.8
1,794.3
verage of 2.8% per annus
2,677.3
2,922.9
Inallocable
3,722.0
3,634.2
74.1
2,449.4
4,753.6
59.1
and further to 1.2 per
79.4
89.2
Transfer to Development
100.4
141.8
160.6
ulation growth rate is
Fund
511.3
94.0
1,703.8
1,995.1
1,984.4
2,393.1
2,261.8
935,800 Chinese, 374,400
ersons of other ethnic
Note: Government current expenditure refers to payments from Consolidated Revenue Account.
Source: Department of Statistics.
er cent, the Malays 14.8
persons of other ethak
total population.
Assets
TAT LEE BANK LIMITED Singapore
1,254
) females in 1983, giving
U.S.S
BANKS
BANK OF MONTREAL ASIA LIMITED Singapore
754
1 females. Of the mis
000,000
UNION BANK OF FINLAND (SINGAPORE) LIMITED
Singapore
852
ilays had fairly even sex
DEVELOPMENT BANK OF SINGAPORE LIMITED (DBS
SINGAPORE NOMURA MERCHANT BANKING LIMITED
Singapore
668
$ per thousand females
BANK) Singapore
NORDBAKEN SOUTH EAST ASIA LTD Singapore
433
11 have an uneven $03
15,141
emales.
OVERSEA-CHINESE BANKING CORPORATION LIMITED
INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL BANK LIMITED Singapore
714
Singapore
9,888*
BITED OVERSEAS BANK LIMITED Singapore
ASIA COMMERCIAL BANK LIMITED Singapore
454
e below 15 years of age
5,401
WERSEAS UNION BANK LIMITED Singapore
LEE WAH BANK LIMITED Singapore
594
d over. The dependency
DRESONER (SOUTH EAST ASIA) LIMITED Singapore
5,328*
DW 15 years and elderly
2,236
COMERZBANK (SOUTH EAST ASIA) LIMITED Singapore
* FIGURES ARE CONSOLIDATED
It population aged 15-59
DIUNG KHIAW BANK LIMITED Singapore
1,645
in 1984.
1,548
PRODUCTION, INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE
ries in the world. The
The various tables below show some aspects of Singapore's Commercial Life
sand population in 1941
d to 5.2 per thousand is
External Trade:
8.8 per thousand live-
Million Dollars
5 87.3 per thousand is
Region/Country of
Origin or Destination
Imports
1980 was 68.7 years for
Exports
1984
1985
1986
1984
1985
1986
Total
South East Asia
61,133.6
57,817.5
55,545.4
51,340.0
50,178.8
Malaysia
11,593.4
10,764.4
48,985.5
9,709.1
12,181.2
11,458.0
Thailand
9,179.7
10,255.3
8,301.0
7,402.6
8,324.2
Brunei
1,350.9
7,786.8
7,244.6
1,196.3
1,606.8
2,458.1
Philippines
415.4
2,092.5
536.6
1,787.7
298.1
627.1
638.1
395.0
683.6
437.4
401.6
441.0
478.6
539.3
North East Asia
18,175.9
18,794.7
19,029.9
10,199.4
10,192.8
10,499.8
507
SINGAPORE
continued
Region/Country of
Imports
Exports
Origin or Destination
1984
1985
1986
1984
1985
1988
Japan
11,217.9
9,869.7
11,052.2
4,806.4
4,722.2
Hong Kong
4,204.4
1,281.3
1,082.5
1,310.1
3,176.2
3,197.4
China, People's Rep.
3,182.9
2,881.1
4,971.7
3,109.6
519.3
730.2
Taiwan
1,243.8
1,997.8
1,992.1
2,224.1
829.6
855.2
1,097.2
South Asia
612.3
704.4
497.7
2,993.5
2,911.4
India
2,382.4
470.4
488.8
348.5
1,413.3
1,069.0
Bangladesh
1,027.8
43.1
52.1
29.3
573.9
664.6
Pakistan
506.3
60.9
60.3
78.1
455.3
533.0
Sri Lanka
230.1
28.9
94.8
35.8
376.2
424.8
378.6
Others
9.0
8.4
6.0
174.8
220.0
239.6
West Asia
11,179.3
7,925.2
7,027.3
3,422.5
7,746.9
Saudi Arabia
2,184.5
5,687.5
2,034.2
1,369.0
1,363.5
588.5
483.5
Iran
733.0
2,474.5
2,062.6
724.8
873.7
763.8
Kuwait
1,882.7
983.7
2,098.1
309.8
268.4
84.9
EC 12
6,336.1
6,545.9
6,468.2
5,173.9
5,312.3
5,455.3
Germany, Fed.Rep.
1,667.2
1,574.4
1,829.0
1,227.0
1,126.0
1,538.8
United Kingdom
1,596.0
1,691.8
1,886.4
1,372.9
1,375.6
1,283.9
France
1,022.7
1,327.7
971.6
637.6
764.0
713.6
Netherlands
492.7
550.9
499.8
628.6
638.5
747.8
Italy
905.5
832.9
740.3
531.5
545.8
498.9
EFTA
1,139.7
1,178.2
1,443.0
424.6
459.6
453.4
Other Western Europe
191.1
206.0
25.7
272.4
301.2
95.3
Socialist Countries of
Eastern Europe
297.3
158.8
189.6
875.1
655.7
477.7
USSR
86.4
28.9
78.4
760.2
531.7
283.7
North America
9,241.1
8,970.8
8,542.3
10,677.2
10,976.9
11,813.2
USA
8,922.9
8,775.4
8,314.4
10,291.7
10,619.9
11,436.3
Oceania
1,784.8
1,838.2
1,226.6
2,916.4
3,046.0
2,230.7
Australia
1,501.6
1,532.4
986.4
1,751.4
1,636.2
1,515.2
Africa
414.3
544.7
610.2
1,500.3
1,266.0
1,516.9
Central & South America
364.8
318.7
383.1
897.6
1,029.0
959.6
Note: 1984 & 1985 - USA incl Puerto Rico
1986 - Australia incl Christmas Island
Source: Department of Stastistics up to 1985
Trade Development Board for 1986
Principal Statistics of Manufacturing, 1976-1986
Establish-
Census
Sales
Employees'
Capital
ments
Workers
Materials
Output
Value
Direct
Remuner-
Expends-
Year
Added
Total
Exports
ation
ture
Number
Million Dollars
1976
2,505
207,234
10,629.4
15,317.4
3,961.8
15,556.5
9,575.9
1,309.8
618.7
1977
2,638
219,112
12,224.6
17,518.2
4,475.5
17,390.5
10,969.4
1,471.7
751.6
1978
2,946
243,724
13,562.0
19,666.7
5,162.9
19,555.5
1979
12,632.7
1,724.2
821.8
3,122
269,334
17,513.4
25,133:7
1980'
6,412.9
25,172.9
16,203.0
2,085.9
1,424.3
3,355
285,250
21,415.2
31,657.9
8,521.9
30,946.7
1981
19,172.9
2,526.9
1,861.9
3,439
281,675
24,891.5
36,787.1
9,720.5
36,543.5
1982
3,586
22,375.3
2,938.1
1,966.8
275,450
24,854.4
36,467.4
9,355.9
36,437.0
21,858.7
3,270.6
2.222.1
1983
3,616
271,106
25,116.3
37,221.5
9,822.1
37,411.1
2,113.8
1984
22,640.8
3,571.9
3,648
274,391
27,474.4
41,077.9
11,106.3
1985
40,910.7
25,057.8
4,045.0
2,168.1
3,504
253,510
25,541.9
38,505.5
10,687.3
1986*
38,384.6
3,495
24,276.3
4,035.3
1,977.2
240,914
22,894.3
36,325.5
11,195.3
36,506.6
23,471.8
3,550.7
* Preliminary.
overseas. 1 Prior to 1980, data on output and sales of petroleum refining industry included the value of products processed for third party
Note: Rubber processing and granite quarrying are excluded.
Refers to establishments engaging 10 or more persons.
Source: Department of Statistics.
508
0
0
2
.0
6
6
:
'.6
1.5
:.0
.6
0'
1.7
3.5
Emp
5.9
0.0
4.8
3.0
4.6
9.0
1.4
5.2
0.2
7.4
2.2
1985
STIC
essed for third party
3,550.7
4,035.3
4,045.0
3,571.9
3,270.6
2,938.1
2,526.9
2,085.9
1,724.2
1,471.7
1,309.8
Remuner-
=
1,977.2
2,169.1
2,113.4
2,222.7
#'996'I
1,861.9
1,424.5
821.8
751.6
618.7
ture
Expends-
Capital
9'656
1,516.9
1,515.2
2,230.9
8"SEV'II
11,813.2
1"882
477.7
9'E5z
8.281
gell
1,283.9
5,455.3
763.8
5'E8"
2,184.5
THE
1'OEZ
1,027.8
1.243.8
state
4,204.4
Imports by Commodity:
Million Dollars
Commodity
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
Total
22,404.5
25,521.9
29,601.3
38,344.4
51,344.8
58,248.0
60,244.6
59,504.2
61,133.6
57,817.5
55,545.4
Food
1,853.3
2,211.0
2,183.0
2,552.6
2,915.5
3,270.5
3,601.9
3,503.9
4,157.6
3,535.4
3,865.7
Cereals & Cereal Preparations
374.5
436.8
438.3
573.2
694.3
754.0
823.4
636.7
980.5
428.1
384.5
Fruits & Vegetables
445.7
487.8
547.2
599.3
674.1
792.2
805.0
857.8
913.9
899.1
827.8
Coffee & Spices
312.1
439.6
384.5
439.8
388.7
464.8
592.4
660.2
808.7
882.6
1,047.7
Beverages & Tobacco
139.4
150.0
176.0
207.3
276.0
282.2
339.5
416.2
460.6
501.0
541.5
Crude Materials
2,023.5
2,278.7
2,470.0
3,108.2
3,416.9
2,775.5
2.306.1
2,624.8
2,510.2
1,988.0
1,905.0
1,003.1
903.3
Rubber
1,302.1
1,485.4
1,577.6
2,017.7
2,163.5
1,659.7
1,269.9
1,622.2
1,454.0
Wood
270.1
291.5
328.3
461.4
423.6
388.0
360.4
353.1
296.1
249.4
272.1
Mineral Fuels
6,140.9
6,524.2
7,081.5
9,672.7
14,889.2
19,831.1
20,479.6
18,611.7
16,961.3
17,031.0
10,994.5
Petroleum & Petroleum Products
6,136.6
6,519.5
7,074.5
9,668.0
14,879.5
19,819.2
20,471.4
18,601.4
16,949.4
17,019.9
10,986.1
Animal & Vegetable 011s
257.8
478.9
491.1
829.4
1,001.0
721.8
671.5
632.1
1,435.9
1,380.5
720.3
Unprocessed Vegetable 011s
186.6
272.7
190.0
414.0
239.6
226.9
114.2
202.0
440.9
293.9
166.9
Chemicals
1,116.2
1,319.3
1,597.6
2,178.5
2,756.1
2,790.7
2,981.6
3,096.2
2,890.4
3,245.6
Chemical Compounds
305.1
311.0
355.1
571.4
715.7
753.0
723.5
821.2
859.1
859.1
772.0879.7
Plastic Materials
247.6
307.6
400.1
591.3
648.2
643.3
687.0
808.1
829.3
721.3
846.0
Medicinal Products
119.2
160.9
161.4
173.2
206.8
203.6
210.7
207.0
222.2
239.0
284.6
Manufactured Goods by Materials
3,277.4
3,630.7
4,566.5
5,736.7
7,237.2
8,079.7
8,407.4
8,089.5
8,045.3
7,082.4
7,613.5
Textile Manufacturers
1,062.5
1,124.7
1,401.4
1,666.1
1,835.6
1,905.0
1,923.7
2,052.4
2,018.3
1,871.5
2,241.6
Non-metal Mineral Manufactures
356.6
406.1
532.7
633.8
904.2
955.7
1,025.7
1,198.4
1,280.6
1,013.7
894.0
Iron & Steel
767.7
870.1
1,138.8
1,461.0
1,854.6
2,360.6
2,596.0
1,890.0
1,730.7
1,425.1
1,463.5
Metal Manufactures
458.1
524.8
621.6
800.5
1,072.2
1,301.6
1,344.2
1,255.4
1,268.1
1,253.6
1,133.4
Paper & Paperboard & Related
Articles
221.4
242.0
310.7
377.1
502.9
532.8
501.7
$566.4
642.7
575.4
684.9
Machinery & Transport Equipment
5,794.7
6,738.5
8,607.8
11,343.9
15,303.8
16,474.9
17,219.3
18,046.1
19,419.6
18,317.2
20,780.7
Non-electric Manchinery
2,205.5
2,406.6
3,050.2
4,002.4
5,720.7
6,685.2
7,142.7
6,629.1
7,128.8
6,624.6
7,000.7
Electric Machinery
2,385.7
2,815.7
3,595.2
4,675.5
6,051.7
6,665.7
6,871.3
7,597.1
8,687.0
8,238.1
10,786.8
Transport Equipment
1,203.5
1,516.3
1,962.4
2,666.0
3,531.3
3,123.9
3,205.3
3,819.8
3,603.8
3,454.6
2,993.2
Miscellaneous Manufactured
Articles
1,534.0
1,764.9
2,071.4
2,194.3
2,951.1
3,413.0
3,852.3
3,947.2
4,196.7
4,193.6
4,887.4
Scientific & Optical Instruments
289.0
335.5
439.0
596.0
797.1
938.0
1,034.4
998.2
1,070.6
1,129.4
1,255.9
Watches & Clocks
291.7
321.4
385.9
377.7
567.3
541.9
550.4
537.6
475.6
424.7
475.7
Miscellaneous Transactions nes
267.3
425.7
356.4
510.9
667.4
643.2
567.3
651.1
850.2
898.0
991.2
Source: Department of Statistics up to 1985.
Trade Developmetn Board for 1986.
SINGAPORE
505
STATES OF THE WORLD
510
SINGAPORE
Exports by Commodity:
Million Dollars
Commodity
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
Total
16,265.9
20,090.3
22,985.5
30,940.0
1,452.3
44,290.8
44,472.8
46,154.9
51,340.0
50,178.8
Food
48,985.5
947.8
1,389.4
1,488.0
1,674.0
2,008.2
2,124.8
2,388.0
2,025.1
2,895.4
2,193.1
2,625.5
Cereals & Cereal Preparations
77.9
150.5
169.4
224.0
357.5
449.5
609.7
274.7
839.1
186.5
142.7
Fruits & Vegetables
165.3
191.9
205.1
223.0
252.8
303.2
320.9
342.9
375.9
366.2
340.8
Coffee & Spices
380.2
570.3
594.0
597.0
627.4
659.2
745.5
720.3
960.7
988.2
1,350.1
Beverages & Tobacco
48.9
65.2
99.9
131.0
157.2
174.3
217.0
210.0
209.8
240.8
332.1
Crude Materials
2,664.7
3,160.0
3,483.1
4,412.0
4,700.0
3,665.3
2,781.1
3,388.5
3,410.4
2,699.7
Rubber
2,458.8
1,995.2
2,255.7
2,480.6
3,070.0
3,294.1
2,455.4
1,744.7
2,108.3
2,138.2
1,496.1
Wood
1,340.8
307.0
330.0
408.0
657.0
585.0
426.4
378.4
398.8
365.0
327.9
380.4
Mineral Fuels
3,783.8
4,874.1
5,329.0
7,414.0
14,175.6
14,175.6
14,616.6
12,965.5
13,185.0
13,594.2
10,147.1
Petroleum & Petroleum Products
3,743.7
4,834.6
5,279.1
7,337.0
1,828.0
13,980.6
14,437.3
12,761.9
12,992.3
13,456.1
10,038.9
Animal & Vegetable Oils
249.3
474.7
513.5
858.0
1,095.5
820.0
780.3
628.2
1,540.5
1,535.2
880.4
Unprocessed Vegetable Oils
217.3
386.5
347.8
684.0
840.6
581.7
560.9
451.5
1,115.7
1,128.1
336.2
Chemicals
609.8
716.1
870.5
1,124
1,124.0
1,556.3
1,722.4
1,956.3
2,463.7
2,716.9
2,839.9
Chemical Compounds
105.7
117.8
152.2
231.0
282.6
346.0
380.5
547.2
882.4
917.6
985.5
Medicinal Products
194.0
213.7
233.5
267.0
323.3
319.2
342.8
329.8
259.8
298.1
294.1
Plastic Materials
93.2
121.4
155.7
205.0
220.6
220.5
243.4
263.2
486.3
680.1
732.5
Manufactured Goods by Materials
1,328.8
1,602.2
2,259.7
2,841.0
3,441.7
3,669.8
3,838.7
3,683.1
3,624.6
3,597.8
3,632.7
Wood Manufactures
279.6
297.5
351.4
482.0
549.2
539.3
495.5
536.4
481.0
484.3
447.3
Textile Manufactures
443.5
467.3
606.3
787.0
793.2
737.0
745.6
810.2
781.1
776.9
929.4
Iron & Steel
187.1
263.3
400.4
362.0
454.3
586.3
707.5
411.2
461.5
457.8
433.1
Metal Manufactures
175.7
228.5
287.1
389.0
450.7
578.5
516.9
509.6
530.3
570.6
561.2
Machinery & Transport Equipment
4,106.7
4,917.0
5,715.1
8,216.0
1,089.4
11,779.4
11,546.2
14,677.9
16,865.0
16,567.4
18,900.5
Non-electric Machinery
983.5
1,163.8
1,299.5
1,958.0
2,662.8
3,119.8
3,597.1
4,536.4
5,764.4
6,011.5
7,420.3
Electric Machinery
2,186.4
2,868.0
3,557.4
4,045.0
6,656.6
6,724.7
6,479.4
7,816.8
9,252.1
8,855.0
10,157.7
Transport Equipment
936.8
885.2
858.3
1,212.0
1,770.0
1,934.9
1,469.6
2,324.8
1,848.5
1,701.0
1,322.5
Miscellaneous Manufactured
Articles
1,232.5
1,402.3
1,725.0
2,121.0
2,572.4
2,919.1
2,831.5
3,083.7
3,408.0
3,378.2
4,042.3
Clothing
448.7
514.1
672.2
811.0
912.0
990.1
979.7
1,002.1
1,170.9
1,176.5
1,469.7
Scientific & Optical Instruments
167.0
192.7
200.0
344.0
410.0
481.7
414.6
510.0
594.1
660.4
754.6
Watches & Clocks
235.1
184.9
223.6
189.0
221.8
250.9
232.8
246.2
230.2
200.9
206.8
Miscellaneous Transactions nes
1,293.6
1,489.3
1,501.7
2,144.0
3,003.7
3,406.2
3,751.0
3,532.6
3,737.6
3,655.5
3,126.2
Source: Department of Statistics up to 1985.
Trade Developmetn Board for 1986.
Petroleum
Mood Products
Food &
Panjang What
container vesse
terminal sight has the capa
Tanjong Pagar
dursng Wharves, Pasi
PSA operates 5
eavigation in the
port facilities
formation. It is re
statutory σ (PA).
transportation and ca
facilities have been
Escowed with a na
The every
link it to ne
Bort at any one time
flying the flags
About 30,000 vessel
stable climate have a
financial services,
efficient commu
The and the wel
ipping centre is
$ingapore's reputa
Birt was 527.5 millio
stpping tonnage of
world In terms
The Port of Singapor
Reved roads and the r.
Boads. Singapore has
COMMUNICATIONS
commitments were for
higher than in 19,
investment commitmen
The Republic remain
increase in industria
which was opened duri
the main growth compc
printing and publishin
electrical, transport
range of industries
Compared with 1983,
of the GNP.
cent in 1984 and manu
Industrial Production
Source: Department of
"Refers to establishmc
Preliminary.
Total incl Rubber Proc
Rubber Processing
Total excl Rubber Proc
Other Products
Precision Equipment
Transport Equipment
Machinery & Appliances
Fabricated Metal Produ
Basic Metals
loose general
to berth 32 Vt
Port of Sinc
Wharves is
containerise
Port), with ov
port is admin:
to keep F
Non-metallic Minerals
Rubber & Plastic Produ
Chemical Products
Paper Products & Print
Farniture
Mearing Apparel
Textiles
Industry
Principal Statistics O
SINGAPORE
Statistics of Manufacturing by Major Industry Group (Preliminary Figures, 1986):
Establish-
Emp loyees'
Census
Sales
Intestry
ments
Workers
Remunera-
Value
Total
Direct
tion
Added
Exports
Number
Million Dollars
good
1 Beverage
304
12,609
203.1
678.2
2,716.9
1,497.7
Sextiles ing Apparel
60
2,528
30.0
66.0
218.1
80.8
446
26,020
222.2
401.6
1,239.2
906.2
1
Products
108
3,057
34.6
70.2
273.1
127.3
147
7,450
71.5
137.8
Printing
374.0
111.3
391
15,856
242.1
744.6
1,445.1
313.6
144
7,535
179.6
900.5
2,691.6
1,743.5
ander Astroleum & Plastic Products
13
3,411
137.4
515.2
6,018.0
3,842.3
250
8,600
102.4
232.3
703.3
147.6
retallic Minerals
103
5,503
87.8
285.1
839.6
66.4
Basic fabricated Metal Products
Metals
32
1,944
42.8
134.1
470.2
168.0
433
18,284
270.3
718.4
& Appliances
1,955.2
493.1
670
100,671
1,468.7
4,856.3
14,620.1
Transport Equipment
12,137.4
214
17,216
335.6
1,094.1
2,013.3
Precision Equipment
1,208.8
40
5,077
62.9
200.5
381.3
358.7
other excl Rubber Processing
Products
140
5,153
59.8
160.6
547.6
287.1
3,495
240,914
3,550.8
11,195.5
Babber Processing
36,506.6
23,471.8
6
450
6.9
7.4
Rocal incl Rubber Processing
166.1
114.5
3,501
241,364
3,557.7
11,202.0
36,672.7
23,586.3
Preliminary.
Refers to establishments engaging 10 or more persons.
Sparce: Department of Statistics.
Industrial Production. The manufacturing sector grew by 9 per
major centre for warehousing, offering more than 150,000 sq
cest in 1984 and manufacturing output accounted for 25 per cent
metres of open and covered space. It has about 2.6 km of wharves
the GNP.
to accommodate three deep-water, 13 coastal and four lash
Compared with 1983, growth was more broad-based, spread over a
(lighter aboard ship) vessels as well as 46 lighters.
range of industries including the petroleum, electronics,
Sembawang Wharves is also a conventional gateway. It handles
lectrical, transport equipment, metal fabrication, garment, and
mainly low-value, high-volume homogeneous cargo such as timber
inting and publishing industries. The electronics industry was
and rubber. It has five berths with a total length of 0.8 km.
the main growth component. Output from the petrochemical complex,
Jurong Port is mainly a dry bulk cargo port which is equipped
wich was opened during the year, added 2 per cent to the overall
with high-speed cranes and a system of conveyor belts. With a
increase in industrial output.
total wharf length of 2.4 km, it can accommodate nine deep-water
and three coastal vessels.
The Republic remained an attractive investment location. Total
investment commitments in 1984 topped $1.8 billion, a shade
The Port of Singapore handled 111.9 m tonnes of cargo in 1984.
bigher than in 1983. A significant portion of investment
This included 63.2 m tonnes of mineral oil-in-bulk. Containerised
sitments were for projects in computer-related areas.
cargo which accounted for about 22 m tonnes or about 60 of total
general cargo moved in some 1.5 m twenty-foot equivalent units
COMMUNICATIONS
(TEUs).
Besides cargo handling, the Port of Singapore offers a host of
STATES OF THE WORLD
Roads. Singapore has 2,614.9 km of public roads, 2,461.1 km are
services such as ship repairing, ship building, ship chandlering
paved roads and the remaining 146.8 km are unpaved roads.
and victualling and bunkering services. Supporting services
include pilotage and tug, supply of fresh water, gas-free
The Port of Singapore. Singapore is one of the busiest ports in
inspection and fumigation, garbage removal and slop reception for
the world in terms of shipping tonnage. In 1984, the total
oil tankers. The port also provides round-the-clock security,
shipping tonnage of vessels arriving at and departing from the
environmental control services such as cleaning oil and debris
port was 527.5 million gross registered tons.
from the sea, and fire-fighting services. Such services are
Singapore's reputation as an important port and a leading
continually upgraded and facilities developed to meet the needs
saipping centre is attributed to her strategic geographical
of shippers and traders.
location and the well developed infrastructure in the Republic.
The efficient communications systems, excellent banking and
Pacific International Lines (PTE), Ltd., PIL Building, 140 Cecil
financial services, a disciplined workforce and a politically
St., Postbox 3206, Singapore 0106; 45 Vessels.
stable climate have all contributed to this growth.
About 30,000 vessels call at Singapore yearly. Some 600 ships
Neptune Orient Lines Ltd., Neptune Building, 456 Alexandra Rd.,
"lying the flags almost all the world's maritime nations are in
Singapore 0511; 39 Vessels.
port at any one time. About 500 shipping lines serve Singapore
and link it to nearly all parts of the world. The port works
Guan Guan Shipping (PTE.), Ltd. 2nd Floor, Kwangtung Provincial
round-the-clock every day of the year.
Bank Building, 60 Cecil St., Singapore 0104; 23 Vessels.
Endowed with a natural deep-water harbour, Singapore's port
facilities have been developed continually, over the last 166
Straits Steamship Co., Ltd., 16th Floor, Ocean Building, Collyer
years to keep pace with the changing pattern in sea
Quay, Postbox 596, Singapore 0104; 11 Vessels.
transportation and cargo handling methods.
The port is administered by the Port of Singapore Authority
AIR
(PSA), a statutory board under the Ministry of Communications and
Information. It is responsible for the provision and maintenance
Singapore Changi Airport is located at the eastern corner of
of port facilities and services and for the control of traffic
Singapore, and about 20 km from the city centre.
and navigation in the port.
Access to the Airport is via two high-speed expressways, East
The PSA operates 5 gateways (Tanjong Pagar Container Terminal,
Coast Parkway and Pan Island Expressway.
Keppel Wharves, Pasir Panjang Wharves, Sembawang Wharves and
The Airport is served by two runways. Runway I is 4,000 m long
Jurong Port), with over 15 km of wharves.
and Runway II 3,355 a long. There are 56 parking positions for
The Tanjong Pagar Container Termainal is the main gateway for
passenger aircraft, and of which 22 are with passenger loading
sandling containerised cargo, with about 5 km of wharves. The
bridges. In addition, there are six parking positions for cargo
terminal has the capacity to accommodate 42,000 TEUs and to berth
planes, in the vicinity of the cargo complex. There are also
eight container vessels and one feeder vessel.
three aircraft maintenance bays, near to the Singapore Airline's
Keppel Wharves is the oldest and the main conventional gateway
Hanger.
of the Port of Singapore. With about 4.6 km of wharves, it 1s
Two major projects have been approved for implementation and
able to berth 32 vessels at any one time. Keppel wharves handles
work to construct them will commence in early 1985. The projects
inly loose general cargo, and some bulk cargo.
are the $700 million second passenger terminal, with two multi-
Pasir Panjang Wharves is a conventional gateway as well as a
storey carparks, and the $27 million third cargo agents building.
The second passenger terminal, to be operational by July 1989,
511
512
SINGAPORE
Gross Domestic Product by Industry:
Million Dollars
Industry
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986*
At Current Market Prices
Total
14,650.9
16,039.0
17,830.4
20,523.0
25,090.7
29,399.4
32,669.9
36,732.8
40,047.9
38,521.1
37,773.6
Agriculture & Fishing
256.8
283.1
273.7
295.2
322.0
356.2
349.1
349.7
358.5
309.1
258.4
Quarrying
56.2
49.1
38.4
42.9
82.7
106.2
128.9
143.0
132.9
111.8
83.6
Manufacturing
3,687.2
4,090.8
4,700.7
5,837.4
7,476.0
8,571.5
8,396.2
9,182.5
10,190.2
9,485.1
10,132.9
Utilities
273.7
291.9
351.5
424.7
557.8
484.9
601.4
703.2
773.5
798.6
845.4
Construction
1,205.1
1,200.3
1,122.2
1,242.6
1,624.4
2,178.8
3,164.8
4,224.8
4,966.0
3,123.8
Commerce
3,815.2
4,232.1
4,631.0
5,135.9
5,717.9
6,289.4
6,921.6
7,286.2
7,500.4
7,113.3
6,901.7
Transport & Communications
1,795.5
2,123.6
2,616.8
2,920.3
3,595.6
4,139.9
4,570.9
5,058.2
5,410.7
5,429.1
5,813.8
Financial & Business Services
2,233.0
2,349.9
2,581.6
3,144.4
4,296.0
5,755.9
6,653.9
7,579.8
8,541.8
8,905.6
8,806.1
Other Services
1,679.4
1,746.8
1,911.9
2,149.1
2,402.4
2,808.3
3,511.5
4,001.2
4,487.2
4,848.6
4,744.4
Less: Imputed Bank Service
Charge
611.6
632.7
737.6
1,039.2
1,410.9
1,778.6
2,109.1
2,306.8
2,827.4
3,196.5
3,329.1
Add: Import Duties
260.4
304.1
340.2
369.7
426.8
427.9
481.5
511.0
514.1
468.1
393.6
At 1968 Market Prices
Total
9,447.4
10,193.2
11,074.0
12,114.1
13,366.5
14,695.2
15,627.5
16,869.8
18,261.5
17,924.9
18,256.8
Agriculture & Fishing
154.9
156.5
155.4
160.7
164.5
165.8
155.6
158.3
164.3
143.9
127.3
Quarrying
43.1
42.0
36.4
41.5
44.9
58.4
73.8
89.1
87.6
80.9
68.4
Manufacturing
2,084.6
2,261.4
2,507.1
2,873.3
3,183.4
3,486.4
3,322.4
3,416.8
3,750.3
3,498.8
3,745.8
Utilities
244.4
276.1
326.1
355.8
381.1
407.6
423.0
457.5
491.7
516.4
565.4
Construction
591.3
578.4
536.1
575.0
630.3
741.4
1,036.2
1,340.8
1,554.7
1,370.9
1,009.6
Commerce
2,450.8
2,642.9
2,827.5
3,035.6
3,263.1
3,452.4
3,661.9
3,836.3
4,054.1
3,970.2
3,930.3
Transport & Comunications
1,399.3
1,629.9
1,885.3
2,149.3
2,440.7
2,781.6
3,070.0
3,308.6
3,626.1
3,739.3
4,163.1
Financial & Business Services
1,573.2
1,651.9
1,769.7
1,988.7
2,472.2
2,941.9
3,222.0
3,626.4
4,118.8
4,503.1
4,692.8
Other Services
1,171.7
1,208.2
1,305.6
1,384.2
1,441.7
1,533.2
1,693.4
1,849.8
1,941.9
2,006.0
2,094.3
Less: Imputed Bank Service
Charge
429.5
435.7
471.3
660.9
893.6
1,102.2
1,283.2
1,460.7
1,777.2
2,130.4
2,320.0
Add: Import Duties
163.6
181.6
196.1
210.9
238.2
228.7
252.4
246.9
249.2
225.8
179.8
* Preliminary.
Source: Department of Statistics.
lenesians. At the
provisional the
fall census was
transferred und
island of Boug
islands of the
no: the 1900 10
islands of Renne
Malkora, the remot
islands of the Sa
Georgia Group and
Islands (Guadalcana
A British Protector
square miles.
430 miles. The
from the Ontor
Santa Cruz GroL
islands extending
Solomon Islands
British High Commiss
Prime Minister: Rt.
CONSTITUTION A
sisister Or in Dexte
Mational Flag
Governor-General
Capital Honiara.
Training Board (VITB)
certificiate. They II
School Proficiency
If they pass. The I
School Leaving Examin
course). Pupils of
(an eight-year course
Biligual course (a
learning of language
The first three
ability and who are ¿
Japanese is offered
Chinese, Malay or T
languages; English
The policy of billr
24,699 in pre-univers
277,875 in primary
enrolment was 471,05
and secondary clas
122 secondary school
445 schools, compri
the morning and anoth
A number of schools
every child.
entitled to free pr
Education in Singap
EDUCATION
and 2,260.3 tonnes of
aviation and regiona
Selector Airport
cargo were handled.
passengers passed th
recorded. For the $
cities. A total of
carrier, operated a
In 1984, 39 inter
office space.
1987, will have 10,50
The third cargo agen
the year 2,000.
during peak hour. It
handle about 10 mill
will have a floor ar
SOLOMON ISLANDS
will about 10 million passengers per annum and 5,000 passengers
have a floor area of about 280,000 sq M. It will be able to
At the secondary level, based on the PSLE results, pupils will
be streamed into the Special course (a 4-year course), Express
10g peak hour. It will be able to cater for our traffic upto
course (a 4-year course) or Normal course (4/5-year course).
year third cargo agents building, which will be completed by mid-
2,000.
Pupils of the Special and Express courses sit for the Singapore-
2907,
will have 10,500 sq m of warehouse space and 11,500 sq n of
Cambridge General Certificate of Education (GCE) 'Ordinary' Level
Examination. Normal course pupils sit for the GCE 'Normal' Level
sce space.
Is 1984, 39 international airlines, including the national
Examination at the end of the 4th year. Those who do well can
ter, operated at Changi Airport to 47 countries and 75
proceed to the 5th year and take the GCE '0' Level Examination.
cities. A total of 63,808 (commercial) aircraft movements were
Based on the GCE '0' Level results the pupils can apply for two-
recorded. For the same period, under review some 9.4 million
year or three-year pre-university course leading to the GCE
Advanced Level Examination.
misengers passed through the Airport, and 295,000 tonnes of
cargo were handled.
Higher Education
Selector Airport in 1984, continued to serve as a general
and regional airport. 31,107 passengers used the Airport
There are five tertiary institutions: the National University of
2,260.3 tonnes of freight were handled.
Singapore, the Nanyang Technological Institute, the Ngee Ann
Polytechnic, the Singapore Polytechnic and the Institute of
EDUCATION
Education. In June 1984, the total enrolment in the tertiary
institutions was 35,783.
[ducation in Singapore 1s not compulsory. All children are
to free primary education and a place is ensured for
Vocational and Industrial Training Board
child.
every A number of schools work on a shift system, one functioning in
The Vocational and Industrial Training Board (VITS) promotes,
provides and regulates vocational training in Singapore. It
morning and another in the afternoon. In June 1985 there were
conducts institutional training for school-leavers, offers part-
645 schools, comprising 60 kindergartens, 236 primary schools,
time continuing education and training programmes and registers
122 secondary schools, 16 full schools (1e schools with primary
apprentices. The VITB 1s also responsible for setting national
secondary classes) and 11 Junior colleges. The total
skills standards, the conduct of public trade testing and
earo lment was 471,051 of which 4,887 were in pre-primary classes,
certification of skills.
877,875 in primary schools, 163,590 in secondary schools and
N,699 in pre-university centres and junior colleges.
NEWSPAPERS
The policy of bilingualism ensures that children are taught two
languages; English and one of the other official languages;
Cir. Fig.
Chinese, Malay or Tamil. The option to study French, German or
Straits Times.
Times House,
260,000
Berita Harian.
Japanese is offered to secondary school pupils with linguistic
390, Kim Seng Road,
39,000
Business Times.
1lity and who are academically bright, as a third language.
Singapore 0923
16,000
The first three years of primary education emphasize the
Lian He Zao Bao.
learning of languages. Pupils are then streamed into the Normal
News Centre
189,000
Biligual course (a six-year course), Extended Bilingual course
Lian He Wan Bao.
82, Genting Lane,
76,000
(an eight-year course) or the Monolingual course (an eight-year
Maxwell P.O. Box 27
course). Pupils of the bilingual courses sit for the Primary
School Leaving Examination (PSLE) and go on to the seondary level
Shin Min Daily News.
577, MacPherson Road
94,000
If they pass. The Monolingual course pupils sit for the Primary
Singapore 1336
School Proficiency Examination (PSPE) and are awarded a
certificiate. They may then join the Vocational and Industrial
Tamil Murasu.
139-41, Lavender Street
6,000
Training Board (VITB) for pre-vociational training.
Singapore 1233
Circulation figures based on average per issue for the quarter
April-June 1985.
STATES OF THE WORLD
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Capital Honiara.
with an annual growth rate of approximately 3.4 per cent.
Governor-General - H.E. Sir Baddeley Devesi, GCMG, GCVO.
Until 1960 the High Commissioner, who administered the
Protectorate, was assisted by an Advisory Council. In that year
National Flag - Per bend sinister Azure and Vert a bendlet
nominated Executive and Legislative Councils were established and
sinister Or in Dexter chief five Mullets in Saltire Argent.
elected members were introduced in 1964. A revised constitution
was introduced in 1967 and from then until its dissolution in
CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT
March 1970 the Legislative Council consisted of three ex-officio
members, 14 elected members and not more than 12 public service
Prime Minister: Rt. Hon. Sir Peter Kenilorea KBE.
members.
In 1970, the Executive and Legislative Councils were replaced by
British High Commissioner: Mr. G. N. Stansfield.
a single Governing Council, with an elected majority for the
first time, which combined both executive and legislative
The Solomon Islands consist of a double row of mountainous
islands extending from Bougainville Straits to Mitre Island in
functions and exercises executive control through a series of
functional committees.
the Santa Cruz Group for a distance of 900 miles, and north and
In 1974 a new Constitution was introduced, and a new office of
south from the Ontong Java group to Rennell Island for a distance
Governor of the Protectorate, replacing the High Commissioner was
of 430 miles. The total land area of the territory is about
11,500 square miles.
introduced. The Governing Council was replaced in its legislative
capacity by the new Legislative Assembly whose 24 elected members
A British Protectorate was proclaimed over the Southern Solomon
Islands (Guadalcanal, Savo, Malaita, San Cristobal, the New
chose a Chief Minister. He selected the Ministers who, together
with ex-officio members, formed the Council of Ministers, which
Georgia Group and its dependencies) in 1893. In 1898 and 1899 the
replaced the Governing Council in its executive capacity.
Vanikora, the remote islands of Cherry and Mitre, Sikatana, and
islands of the Santa Cruz group, including Utupua, Tikopia,
Originally the Council of Ministers was composed of six Ministers
and three ex-officio members, but in June 1975 the number of
the islands of Rennel and Bellona were added to the protectorate,
Ministers was increased to eight, to include a Minister of
and the in 1900 the northern islands, namely Santa Isabel, Choiseul,
Finance, and the number of ex-officio members dropped to two.
islands of the Shortlands Group, south and south-east of the
in island of Bougainville, and the atoll group of Ontong Java,
Internal self-government was conferred on 2 January 1976. Under
the revised Constitution, the Governor had to act in accordance
were transferred under convention from Germany to Great Britain.
A full census was taken in the Solomon Islands in February 1976,
with the advice of the Council of Ministers except in his
and the provisional figure for the population was 196,823 mainly
reserved subjects of defence, external affairs, and internal
elanesians. At the beginning of 1981 it was estimated at 233,000
security. The Public Service was executivized. The Council of 10
Ministers presided over by the Chief Minister and collectively
responsible to the Legislative Assembly has increased from 24 to
513
EUROPA WORLD HANDBOOK
SINGAP
SINGAPORE
exh a con
Leged to
ed obser
Eights. F
been rele
Introductory Survey
1988, afte
detention
December
Location, Climate, Language, Religion, Flag, Capital
constitution, redefining the PAP as a 'National Movement', and
with a ru
The Republic of Singapore lies in South-East Asia. The country
in October 1984, at the party conference, 11 of the 12 seats on
Attention
comprises one main island and several offshore islands, situated
the main policy-making body, the Central Executive Com-
bed. how
approximately 124 km (77 miles) north of the Equator, off the
of cases
mittee, were won by younger members, expected to appeal to
southernmost tip of the Malay Peninsula, to which it is linked
the new young generation of Singaporean voters.
the accep
by a causeway. The climate is equatorial, with a uniformly
At the general election in December 1984 the PAP was again
the arre:
high daily and annual temperature varying between 24°C and
returned to power with a large majority in Parliament (which
legislatio
27°C (75°F-80°F). Relative humidity is high, and the average
detention
was now enlarged to 79 seats), but the party lost two seats to
annual rainfall is 244 cm (96 in). There are no well-defined wet
opposition parties, and its share of the total votes was reduced
d appea
and dry seasons. There are four official languages-Malay (the
Internal
to 62.9% from 75% in 1980. A constitutional amendment
national language), Chinese (Mandarin), Tamil and English.
released.
approved in July 1984, provided for up to three 'non-constitu
The language of administration is English. The principal reli-
remained
ency' parliamentary seats for the opposition (with restricted
gions are Daoism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and Hindu-
voting rights) if none were won in the election. One extra sex:
A gene
ism. The national flag (proportions 3 by 2) has two equal
system
was subsequently offered to the losing opposition candidate
horizontal stripes, of red and white, with a white crescent
were re
with the highest percentage of votes. This seat was refused
moon and five white stars in the upper hoist. The capital is
which h.
Singapore City.
however, in January 1985 by the Workers' Party. Presiderz
Sir each
Devan Nair resigned in March. A new President, Wee Kirs
an ethni
Recent History
Wee (hitherto the Chairman of the Singapore Broadcasting
ensure
In 1826 the East India Company formed the Straits Settle-
Corporation), was elected in August.
Practice
ments by the union of Singapore and the dependencies of
During 1986 the Government exhibited signs of increasing
tandicat
Penang and Malacca on the Malay Peninsula. They came under
intolerance towards its critics. In August 1986 amendments to
The PA
British rule in 1867 as a Crown Colony. Singapore was occupied
the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act were
are was
by Japan for three years during the Second World War. At
hurriedly adopted, enabling Parliament to fine, expel or
Party,
the end of the war, following Japan's defeat, Singapore was
imprison members who were deemed to have abused their
cared
governed by a British Military Administration. When civil rule
parliamentary privileges. In the same month Parliament also
Sceialis
was restored in 1946, Singapore was detached from the other
approved a Newspaper and Printing Presses (Amendment)
aready
Straits Settlements and became a separate Crown Colony. A
Act, which empowered the Government to restrict the distribe
for org
new constitution, adopted in February 1955, introduced some
tion of foreign publications that were deemed to be interfer
entical
measure of self-government, and in June 1959 the state
in domestic political affairs; the circulation of several foreign
teal tre
achieved complete internal self-government, with Lee Kuan
periodicals was subsequently restricted, and in 1987 Lee Kune
and fine
Yew as Prime Minister. The Federation of Malaysia came into
Yew sued two foreign publications for libel in courts in Malay-
I
ta
being in September 1963, with Singapore as a constituent
sia and Hong Kong.
eig
state. On 9 August 1965, following irreconcilable differences
In November 1986 one of the Government's princip
world
with the central Government in Malaysia, Singapore seceded
opponents, J. B. Jeyaretnam (who was secretary-general of LBP &
Born
from the federation and became an independent country. In
Workers' Party and one of the two opposition members -
Feb C
September 1965 it joined the UN, and in October it became a
Parliament), was sentenced to one month's imprisonment
Cosen
member of the Commonwealth. In December Singapore was
fined S $5,000 (enough, according to the Constitution.
proclaimed a republic, with a President as constitutional Head
deprive him of his parliamentary seat and prevent him from
of State. In May 1973 the last major ties with Malaysia,
standing for election for five years), when the Supreme Court
upheld a conviction for perjury in connection with bankrupt
In
concerning currency and finance, were broken. In September
1972 Lee Kuan Yew's ruling People's Action Party (PAP) won
proceedings brought against the Workers' Party four years
all 65 parliamentary seats in a general election that was also
previously. In February 1987 Jeyaretnam was also fined made by
contested by five opposition parties.
parliamentary committee for abuse of privilege, having
After independence the Government supported a strong
allegations of government interference in the judiciary.
US military presence in South-East Asia. However, with the
further fines were imposed on him for publishing 'distorted
collapse of US influence in the area during 1974 and 1975,
accounts of an earlier hearing of the committee and (in
Singapore adopted a conciliatory attitude towards the People's
for alleged contempt of Parliament and abuse of parliament
Republic of China and its communist neighbours. The Govern-
privilege. In October Jeyaretnam's removal from the
ment called for the removal of foreign bases from member-
Society register was ordered by a court. An
states of the Association of South-East Asian Nations
to the Judicial Committee of the
(ASEAN), and advocated a policy of neutrality. From 1976
Kingdom (the highest court of appeal
onwards Singapore aimed to consolidate its trade links with
in October 1988, in his reinstatement as a
China, although diplomatic relations were not established until
During the course of the appeal, investigations
Jeyaretnam's previous convictions revealed that they had
been
1982. After the Vietnamese-backed seizure of power in Kampu-
chea (now Cambodia) in 1979, Singapore supported the UN
'fatally flawed'. However; since the criminal case had
be
decision to continue to recognize the Khmer Rouge
appeal to the Privy Council, the original
considered in the District Court, where there was preventing right
Government-in-exile, and in 1982, with the other members of
ASEAN, Singapore recognized the anti-Vietnamese tripartite
Jeyaretnam from re-entering Parliament
pardon. In May 1989 Wee Kim Wee refused to grant 3
1
coalition Government-in-exile of Democratic Kampuchea. In
-
December 1986 New Zealand announced that it would with-
to Jeyaretnam. In November 1990 Jeyaretnam was
and
draw its defence force, stationed in Singapore since 1955,
guilty of slandering Lee during his election campaign the in
Prime
over the next three years, following assurances from the
Minister. and was obliged to pay damages of S $260,000 to
Government of Singapore that it had developed an adequate
defence structure to fulfil Singapore's needs.
In May and June 1987 the Government detained 22
At general elections in December 1976 and December 1980,
(including 10 Roman Catholic church
the PAP won all 69 seats in the enlarged Parliament. The
members of Jeyaretnam's Workers'
PAP's monopoly ended in October 1981, however, when a
the Internal Security Act, for alleged
E
candidate of the opposition Workers' Party won a by-election.
This posed no direct threat but, in order to reassert its
denounced by Jeyaretnam, who claimed that the Government would
conspiracy' to subvert state organizations. The
authority, the Government increased its control over trade
wished to intimidate Singaporeans SO that
unions and restructured the ownership of major newspapers.
support opposition parties. In November the
In November 1982 the PAP approved amendments to the party
also criticized by international human rights
Amnesty International, for its refusal to present
2334
CAPORE
Introductory Survey
conspiracy of court; they requested an inquiry into the
of the President, formerly elected by Parliament to a largely
detainees, and urged Singapore to sign
ceremonial position, were initially proposed by Lee in 1984,
observe the International Covenant on Civil and Political
and were criticized by members of opposition parties as being
By December most of the alleged conspirators had
intended to accommodate Lee, following his resignation as
released, but eight of them were rearrested in April
Prime Minister. However, Lee stated, during the 1988 election
after complaining that they had been tortured while in
campaign, that he would not be a candidate in the first
Four prisoners were released by June 1988, and in
presidential election under the new system. Parliament
mber a further four detainees were released in accordance
approved the legislation to amend the Constitution by 75
ruling by the Court of Appeal, based on a fault in their
votes to one (the single dissenting vote was cast by the only
Iovement' the xecutive 12 seats
sention a orders. They were immediately rearrested. The trial
opposition MP with full voting rights, Chiam See Tong). Under
however, established a precedent for the judicial review
the amendment, Wee Kim Wee was to continue in office until
under the Internal Security Act, including
October 1993. Candidates for the presidency were limited to
ed S. to appea
courts of evidence used in warrants for
those who had held the post of a minister, chief justice or
PAP
In January 1989 Parliament approved
senior civil servant or were at the head of a large company.
was
liament
dation ensuring that the judiciary could examine such
The candidates were to be scrutinized by a new presidential
st es was two seating
entions only on technical grounds, and abolishing the right
election committee, which was to comprise the head of the
appeal to the Privy Council in cases brought under the
Society of Accountants, the Chairman of the Public Service
Security Act. In March 1989 three detainees were
Commission and a member of the Presidential Council of
d amendmen
suleased. Internal The two remaining prisoners (of the original 22)
Human Rights. The latter two officials were appointed by the
with non-constit restrict
in detention until June 1990.
Government, prompting fears that the selected candidates
One extra
general election was held in September 1988. The electoral
would be those favoured by the PAP. The constitutional
tion candi
so that 39 of the existing 79 constituencies
amendment also included a clause increasing the number of
13 'group representation constituencies',
i was
candidates required to contest a 'group representation consti-
arty. Preside
had to be contested by teams of three representatives
tuency' in a general election to a minimum of three and a
ient, Wee
each party, at least one of whom was to be a member of
maximum of four, one of whom was to be a member of an
Broadcast
ethnic minority (i.e. non-Chinese). The declared aim was to
ethnic minority.
the presence of racial minorities in Parliament; in
In early 1991 the Government promoted the acceptance of
of
however, opposition parties with few resources were
five 'shared values', based on Confucian philosophy, as the
mendments
deapped by the difficulty of presenting three candidates.
basis of a national ideology, first discussed in January 1989.
vers) Act
PAP won 80 of the elective seats (which now totalled 81);
Critics alleged that the ideology would be used to reinforce
ine, expel
was gained by the leader of the Singapore Democratic
support for the PAP and to obviate opposition challenges.
abused
Party,
Chiam See Tong. Two 'non-constituency' seats were
Relations with the USA were adversely affected in 1988 by
arliament
Cared to Francis Seow (Workers' Party) and Lee Siew Choh
allegations of official abuses of human rights in Singapore, by
(Amendme
Recialist Front). In December, however, while Seow (who had
the US decision (in February) to withdraw preferential tariff
ct the distr
Tready been detained in May under the Internal Security Act
treatment for imports from Singapore, and by the expulsion
be interfer
organizing a meeting between a US diplomat and lawyers
from Singapore (in May) of the First Secretary at the US
several forei
tical of the Government) was in the USA, undergoing med-
Embassy for alleged involvement in domestic politics, through
1987 Lee Kr
treatment, he was convicted in absentia for tax evasion
meeting lawyers critical of the Government. The USA denied
urts in
fined S $19,000, which meant that he was legally prevented
these allegations and responded by expelling a Singaporean
taking his seat in Parliament. In January 1989 Lee began
diplomat from Washington.
nt's prine
eighth term as Prime Minister, and announced that he
As a member of ASEAN (see p. 103), Singapore was active
general of
gould retire from the premiership before the expiry of the
during the 1980s, in encouraging a peaceful settlement in
1 members
This announcement was followed by a statement from
Cambodia, favouring the establishment of a neutral govern-
risonment
Chok Tong (the First Deputy Prime Minister and Lee's
ment in that country. Relations with Indonesia improved in
institution
osen successor) that Lee was adopting a secondary and more
the late 1980s: the process of establishing joint military training
ent him
Prisory role in the government of the country. In August
facilities with Indonesia, which had begun in 1986, was
Supreme Co
fiament unanimously re-elected Wee Kim Wee for a further
accomplished in February and March 1989 by the signing of
th bankrupt
year term as President.
two agreements. Relations with other members of ASEAN
ty four
is November 1989 Lee was awarded damages in the High
deteriorated when Singapore offered to accommodate some of
years
Iso fined by
Court against a magazine which had published an article
the US military facilities which had hitherto been stationed in
having
oncerning the Government's attitude towards the Roman
the Philippines. The Governments of Malaysia and Indonesia,
judiciary,
Catholic Church. This followed the detention of 10 Catholic
in particular, felt that such a development would undermine
ng 'distorte'
skers in 1987 (see above). In December, however, a Mainten-
ASEAN proposals to establish a Zone of Peace, Freedom and
and (in
of Religious Harmony Bill was introduced in Parliament.
Neutrality' in South-East Asia. In November 1990, however,
arliaments
proposed the prohibition of 'religious subversives' from
representatives of the Governments of the USA and Singapore
om the
addressing congregations or holding office in religious publi-
signed an agreement providing the US navy and air force with
rt. An apper
stions, on penalty of imprisonment. The Roman Catholic
increased access to existing bases in Singapore.
n the United
Carch expressed the fear that the legislation, if enacted,
Despite the establishment of important economic links during
ore) resulted
night be used to stifle legitimate criticism of the Government.
the 1980s, Singapore's relations with the People's Republic of
lising lawyer.
Nevertheless, the law was approved by Parliament in
China were adversely affected by the perceived threat of
gations
Envember 1990.
Chinese domination, owing to the preponderance of ethnic
hey had been
in early 1990 Parliament had approved legislation enabling
Chinese in Singapore (76% at mid-1989). Relations were also
'se had beat
Government to nominate as many as six unelected MPs.
strained by Singapore's close military and economic ties with
S no right
This provoked limited opposition from PAP MPs. The politi-
Taiwan. In October 1990, however, Singapore and the People's
ns prevents
only neutral nominated MPs would be appointed for two years
Republic of China established diplomatic relations at ambassa-
1 presidentia
and would be able to vote on all legislative proposals except
dorial level. This development was prompted mainly by the
ant a pardit
these concerning financial and constitutional affairs.
resumption of diplomatic relations between the People's
1 was form?
On 28 November 1990 Lee was duly replaced as Prime
Republic of China and Indonesia, and followed a visit by the
aign in
Minister by Goh Chok Tong. Lee remained in the Cabinet as
Chinese Premier, Li Peng, to Singapore in August. Singapore's
0 the Prim#
Senior Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and retained
relations with Taiwan were apparently unaffected by these
the position of Secretary-General of the PAP. The other major
events.
d 22 per:
danges to Lee's former Cabinet were the promotion of his
'S and Ener
sen. Brig.-Gen. Lee Hsien Loong, to be a Deputy Prime
Government
t trial, under
Minister and the creation of a new Ministry for Information
in a Marrid
and the Arts, under Brig.-Gen. George Yeo, previously the
Legislative power is vested in the unicameral Parliament, with
urests
Enister of State for Finance and Foreign Affairs.
81 members who are elected by universal adult suffrage for
Government
In January 1991 the Constitution was amended to provide
five years (subject to dissolution) in single-member and multi-
would
member constituencies. From 1993 the President (currently
a popularly-elected presidency with extensive powers of
rnment
veto on proposed financial legislation, a role as final arbiter in
elected by Parliament to perform mainly ceremonial functions)
os, includes
of detention for reasons of national security, and influence
is to be directly elected by universal adult suffrage for a four-
evidence
civil and military appointments. The changes to the functions
year term as a constitutional Head of State, vested with certain
powers of veto in financial matters, public appointments and
2335
SINGAPORE
Introductory Survey
SING
detentions for reasons of national security. Effective executive
authority rests with the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister,
In 1985 Singapore experienced a short recession, caused
mainly by high domestic labour costs and by an increase
(Natic
liament. which is appointed by the President and responsible to Par-
in direct trading by Malaysia and Indonesia, which reduced
(Chris
Singapore's traditional entrepôt trade. Several measures were
Weight
Defence
subsequently implemented to reduce labour costs, including a
In June 1990 the Singapore armed forces had an estimated
successful policy of wage restraint. In the late 1980s and early
The
1990s many state-owned corporations were transferred to the
also u
55,500 troops: 45,000 in the army, 4,500 in the navy and 6,000
in the air force. Military service is compulsory for 30 months
private sector. Foreign and local companies were encouraged
to invest overseas and particularly to transfer labour-intensive
(24 months for officers). Paramilitary forces comprised 11,600
operations to neighbouring countries. In 1990 Singapore inten-
police and a civil defence force numbering an estimated 100,000.
sified activity in the 'triangle of growth', which encompassed
Singapore is a participant in the Five-Power Defence Arrange-
Johore, in southern Malaysia, and the Riau Islands in Indo-
ments (with Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United
nesia. The aim was to combine the inexpensive labour and
Kingdom). Government expenditure on defence for the financial
unexploited space of these developing countries with Singa
year diture). 1990/91 was projected at S $3,486m. (24.5% of total expen-
pore's sophisticated infrastructure. Growth in productivity.
which had been rapid in the late 1980s, was expected to
decelerate in the early 1990s, owing to recessionary conditions
Economic Affairs
in the economies of principal trading partners. Singapore aimed
In 1989, according to estimates by the World Bank, Singapore's
to attract higher value-added research and development indus-
gross national product (GNP), measured at average 1987-89
tries, to compensate for its labour shortage and for the result-
prices, was US $28,058m., equivalent to US $10,450 per head.
ant upward pressure on wages and inflation.
During 1980-89, it was estimated, GNP increased, in real
terms, at an average annual rate of 6.9%, while real GNP per
ARE
head increased by 5.7% per year. Over the same period, the
Social Welfare
population increased by an annual average of 1.2%. Singapore's
Area
gross domestic product (GDP) increased, in real terms, by an
The Ministry of Community Development, aided by 159 volun-
Pope
annual average of 5.7% in 1980-88 and by 9.2% in 1989.
tary bodies which are co-ordinated by the Singapore Council
22
Agriculture (including hunting, forestry and fishing) contrib-
of Social Service, provides a wide range of welfare services to
24
uted an estimated 0.3% of GDP, and employed 0.3% of the
individuals and families in need. Singapore has no state pen-
working population, in 1990. Fruit and vegetables are the
sions or sickness benefit, but there is a Central Provident
principal crops. During 1980-87 agricultural production
Fund into which contributions must be paid by employers and
declined at an average annual rate of 5.1%.
employees. In 1986 Singapore had 10 government hospitals
Industry (including mining, manufacturing, construction and
with a total of 8,085 beds. There were also 12 private hospitals
19
power) contributed about 33.4% of GDP, and employed 35.7%
with a total of 2,082 beds. In 1987 a total of 2,939 physicians
19
of the working population, in 1990. During 1980-88 industrial
were registered to practise in Singapore. Of total expenditure
19
production increased by an annual average of 4.5%.
by the central Government in the financial year 1987/88
Mining (chiefly the quarrying of granite) accounted for only
S $548m. (3.6%) was for health services, and a further S $196m
about 0.1% of GDP and 0.03% of employment in 1990.
(1.3%) for social security and welfare.
24
Manufacturing contributed an estimated 26.4% of GDP, and
employed 28.9% of the working population, in 1990. In 1988
the principal branches of manufacturing (measured in terms of
Education
(3.
the value of output) were electrical machinery (42%);
Primary and secondary education is available in the four official
petroleum-refining and related products; chemicals; machinery;
languages of Malay, Chinese, Tamil and English. In 1978,
transport equipment (especially shipbuilding); food products;
part of a policy of bilingualism, examinations in English and
and clothing. During 1980-88 manufacturing production
Mandarin Chinese became compulsory for pupils seeking to
increased by an annual average of 4.8%.
enter secondary education. In 1987 English became the medium
Singapore relies on imports of hydrocarbons to fuel its three
of instruction in all schools. The New Education System (pr)
thermal power stations. In 1989 imports of mineral fuels
mary and secondary levels) allows less able pupils to complete
accounted for 14% of merchandise imports.
their education over a longer period of time, if they choose
Finance and business services provided 29.7% of GDP in
After three years' primary education, pupils are streamed into
1990. By 1988 Singapore had replaced Hong Kong as the
a bilingual course (six years), an extended bilingual course
second most active foreign exchange dealing centre in Asia and
(eight years) or a monolingual course (eight years). Secondary
the Pacific (after Tokyo), with a daily turnover of US $45,000m.
school streaming depends on the result of the Primary School
Banking is also a significant sector, with a total of 137 com-
Leaving Examinations. In June 1989 there were 401 primary
mercial banks in operation in 1991. Tourism is an important
and secondary schools, with a total enrolment of 456,909 pupdi
source of foreign exchange. In 1989 tourist arrivals totalled
Outside the school system there are several higher education
4.8m. (5.3m. in 1990) and receipts from tourism reached
S $5,669.1m.
centres and vocational institutes, providing craft and industrial crst
In 1989 Singapore recorded a visible trade deficit of
training, and technical institutes providing advanced
training. Total enrolment in the six universities and colleg
US $2,474m., but there was a surplus of US $2,338m. on the
was 50,756 in 1989. Adult education courses are conducted
current account of the balance of payments. In 1989 the
principal source of imports (21.4%) was Japan. The principal
a statutory board. Education is not compulsory but in
market for exports (23.3%) was the USA. Other major trading
the number of children attending primary and seconds
partners include Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand and Germany.
schools was equivalent to 87% of both boys and girls in
Principal imports in 1989 included electronic components, elec-
relevant age-group. The rate of literacy, among persons
trical circuit apparatus, chemicals, paper products and rubber.
cation by the central Government in the financial year 1987.50
10 years and above, was 87.2% in 1988. Expenditure on
Principal exports included petrochemical products, integrated
circuits, data-processing machines, printed circuits, cassette
was S $2,204m. (14.4% of total spending).
recorders and radio and television receivers. Singapore is an
important entrepôt, and re-exports accounted for 37.3% of total
exports in 1988.
Public Holidays
In the financial year ending 31 March 1991 there was an
1991: 1 January (New Year's Day), 15-16 February (Chiness Rx:3
estimated budgetary surplus of S $6,079m. The annual rate of
inflation averaged 1.2% in 1980-88, rising to 2.4% in 1989 and
New Year), 29 March (Good Friday), 16 April (Hari (Vent
to 3.4% in 1990. Only 1.7% of the labour force were unemployed
Puasa, end of Ramadan), 1 May (Labour Day), 28 Macrificel
Day), 23 June (Hari Raya Haji, feast of the
in 1990. However, owing to the labour shortage (mainly in the
August (National Day), 5 November (Deepavali), 25 December
industrial and construction sectors), there were about 200,000
(Christmas Day).
foreign workers in Singapore in 1990.
Singapore is a member of the Asian Development Bank (see
p. 100), of ASEAN (see p. 103), and of the Colombo Plan (see
New Year), 4 April (Hari Raya 4-5 February Radank
1992: 1 January (New Year's (Chine
p. 112).
Day), 11 June (Hari Raya Haji, feast of the Sacrifice), 9
April (Good Friday), 1 May (Labour Day), May/June August
2336
SINGAPORE
Directory
Directory
The Constitution
Minister of Health and Senior Minister of State (Foreign
Affairs): YEO CHEOW TONG.
constitution came into force on 3 June 1959, with the
Minister of Communications and Second Minister of Defence
blishment of the self-governing State of Singapore. This was
(Policy): Dr YEO NING HONG.
Accuently (September 1963 to August 1965) and as a result
amended as a consequence of Singapore's affiliation
Minister of Information and the Arts: Brig.-Gen. GEORGE YEO
(acting).
("eastitution President by universal adult suffrage, and to extend
its was also amended in January 1991 to provide for the
adoption of republican status on 22 December 1965. The
MINISTRIES
Responsibilities office. The main provisions of the Constitution
of the presidency, which had previously been
Office of the Prime Minister: Istana Annexe, Istana, Singapore
0923; tel. 7375133; fax 7345244.
breammarized below:
Ministry of Communications: 460 Alexandra Rd, PSA Bldg 39-
00, Singapore 0511; tel. 2707988; telex 25500; fax 2799734.
HEAD OF STATE
Ministry of Community Development: 512 Thomson Rd, MCD
Head of State is the President, elected by universal adult
Bldg, Singapore 1129; tel. 2589595; telex 34361.
glirage for a four-year term. He normally acts on the advice of
Cabinet, but is vested with certain functions and powers for
Ministry of Defence: Tanglin Rd, Singapore 1024; tel. 4741155;
telex 21373.
purpose of safeguarding the financial reserves of Singapore
the integrity of the Public Services.
Ministry of Education: Kay Siang Rd, Singapore 1024; tel.
4739111; telex 34366.
THE CABINET
Ministry of the Environment: 40 Scotts Rd, Environment Bldg,
Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister, is appointed by the
Singapore 0922; tel. 7327733.
President and is responsible to Parliament.
Ministry of Finance: 8 Shenton Way, 43rd, 45th, 46th and 50th
Storey, Treasury Bldg, Singapore 0106; tel. 2259911; telex 34371.
THE LEGISLATURE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 250 North Bridge Rd, 07-00 Raffles
Legislature consists of a Parliament of 81 members, presided
City Tower, Singapore 0617; tel. 3361177; telex 21242.
A
over Pr-liament themselves or appointed by Parliament although he
by a Speaker who may be elected from the members of
Ministry of Health: 16 College Rd, College of Medicine Bldg,
Singapore 0316; tel. 2237777; telex 34360; fax 2241677.
not be a member of Parliament. Members of Parliament are
arted may by universal adult suffrage for five years (subject to
Ministry of Home Affairs: Phoenix Park, Tanglin Rd, Singapore
1024; tel. 2359111; telex 34360.
Essolution) in single-member and multi-member constituencies.*
A 21-member Presidential Council, chaired by the Chief Justice,
Ministry of Information and the Arts: Singapore.
examines material of racial or religious significance, including
Ministry of Labour: 18 Havelock Rd, Singapore 0105; tel. 5341511;
Invistation, to see whether it differentiates between racial or
telex 34364.
surious communities or contains provisions inconsistent with the
Ministry of Law: 250 North Bridge Rd, Raffles City Tower 21-
Examental liberties of Singapore citizens.
00, Singapore 0617; tel. 3378191; telex 34374.
CITIZENSHIP
Ministry of National Development: Telok Ayer St, 5th Storey,
MND Bldg Annexe B, Singapore 0106; tel. 2221211; telex 34369.
Under the Constitution, Singapore citizenship may be acquired
either by birth, descent or registration. Persons born when Singa-
Ministry of Trade and Industry: 8 Shenton Way, Treasury Bldg
48-01, Singapore 0106; tel. 2259911; telex 24702.
pare was a constituent State of Malaysia could also acquire Singa-
pure citizenship by enrolment or naturalization under the
Constitution of Malaysia.
A constitutional amendment was introduced in May 1988, where-
Legislature
by 39 constituencies were merged to form 13 'group represen-
PARLIAMENT
tation constituencies' which would return 'teams' of three
Members of Parliament. At least one member of each team was
Speaker: TAN Soo KHOON.
to be of minority (non-Chinese) racial origin. In January 1991 the
Constitution was further amended, stipulating that the number
General Election, 3 September 1988
1989
of candidates contesting 'group representation constituencies'
should be a minimum of three and a maximum of four.
Votes
% Seats
05.120
People's Action Party
848,029
61.8
80*
133,030
The Government
Workers' Party
224,473
18.4
-
55,406
Singapore Democratic Party
158,341
11.5
1
National Solidarity Party
50,452
3.7
HEAD OF STATE
United People's Front
17,282
1.3
President: WEE KIM WEE (elected 30 August 1985; re-elected 31
Singapore Justice Party
14,660
1.1
August 1989).
PKMS
13,526
1.0
Angkatan Islam
280
0.0
THE CABINET
Independents
15,412
1.1
(May 1991)
Total
1,342,455
100.0
81
Prime Minister and Minister of Defence: GOH CHOK TONG.
Deputy Prime Minister: ONG TENG CHEONG.
* 11 seats were unopposed.
eachers
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Trade and Industry and
10.236
Second Minister of Defence (Services): Brig.-Gen. (retd) LEE
ESIEN LOONG.
Political Organizations
Senior Minister to the Prime Minister's Office: LEE KUAN YEW.
1957
Kinister of National Development: SUPPIAH DHANABALAN.
Angkatan Islam (Singapore Muslim Movement): Singapore; f.
1958; Pres. MOHAMED BIN OMAR; Sec.-Gen. IBRAHIM BIN ABDUL
Minister of Education: Dr TONY TAN KENG YAM.
GHANI.
25.671
Unister of the Environment: Dr AHMAD MATTAR.
Barisan Bersatu Singapura (Singapore United Front): 67A Lorong
Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Law: S. JAYAKUMAR.
8 Geylang, Singapore 1439; f. 1973; Chair. TAN CHEE KIAN; Sec.-
lasses
Minister of Finance: Dr RICHARD Hu Tsu TAU.
Gen. SEOW KHEE LENG.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Community Development:
National Solidarity Party: Singapore; f. 1986; Pres. KUM TENG
ONG KAN SENG.
HocK; Sec.-Gen. RASIAH THIAGARAJAH.
Unister of Labour: LEE YOCK SUAN.
People's Action Party (PAP): SLF Bldg, 07-02, 510 Thomson Rd,
Singapore 1129; tel. 2589898; fax 2599222; f. 1954; governing party
2341
SINGAPORE
Directory
INGAP(
since 1959; 12-member Cen. Exec. Cttee; Chair. ONG TENG
Indonesia: 7 Chatsworth Rd, Singapore 1024; tel. 7377422; teles
Astion of
CHEONG; Sec.-Gen. LEE KUAN YEW.
21464; Ambassador: TUK SETYOHADI.
Inbunal.
Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura (PKMS) (Singapore
Israel: 230 Orchard Rd, 11-230 Faber House, Singapore 0922
District (
Malay National Organization): 218F, Changi Rd, PKM Bldg, 4th
Floor, Singapore 1440; tel. 3455275; fax 3458924; f. in 1950 as the
tel. ELIASHIV. 2350966; telex 21975; fax 7337008; Ambassador: Dr ISRAIL
and
civil ju
crimum I
United Malay National Organization (UMNO) of Malaysia; renamed
civil case
as UMNO Singapore in 1954 and as PKMS in 1967; seeks to
Italy: 101 Thomson Rd, 27-02 United Sq., Singapore 1130; w
advance the implementation of the special rights of Malays in
2506022; telex 21177; fax 2533301; Ambassador: Dr ROMUALDO
Registrate:
BETTINI.
risonme
Singapore, as stated in the Constitution, to safeguard and promote
Ligistrate
the advancement of Islam, to encourage racial harmony and good-
Japan: 16 Nassim Rd, Singapore 1025; tel. 2358855; telex 21352
$10,000.
will in Singapore and to promote the welfare and advancement of
Ambassador: WASUKE MIYAKE.
Caims Tril
Singaporean citizens; Pres. SAHID SAHOOMAN; Sec.-Gen.
Korea, Democratic People's Republic: 19 Fort Rd, Singapore
rising fror
MOHAMMED AZIZ IBRAHIM.
1543; tel. 3453044; telex 23455; Ambassador: YUN CHONG-KYT.
ervices in
Singapore Democratic Party: 1 North Bridge Rd, 17-08 High
Korea, Republic: 101 Thomson Rd, United Sq., 10-02/04, Goldbal
Court deals
Street Centre, Singapore 0617; f. 1980; Chair. LING How DOONG;
Sq, Singapore 1130; tel. 2561188; Ambassador: LEE CHANG-CHOOR
years.
Sec.-Gen. CHIAM SEE TONG.
Malaysia: 301 Jervois Rd, Singapore 1024; tel. 2350111; teles
The High
and civil ca
Singapore Justice Party: Singapore; f. 1972; Pres. A. R. SUIB;
21406; High Commissioner: Dato' K. THARMARATNAM.
Sec.-Gen. MUTHUSAMY RAMASAMY.
did appeal
Myanmar: 15 St Martin's Drive, Singapore 1025; tel. 7342637
The Court
United People's Front (UPF): 715 Colombo Court, 7th Floor,
telex 21467; fax 2355963; Ambassador: U NYUNT SWE.
the High
Singapore 0617; f. 1975; a coalition of several small parties; Chair.
Netherlands: 541 Orchard Rd, 13-01/04 Liat Towers, Singapore
risdiction.
ANG BEE LIAN; Gen. Sec. HARBANS SINGH.
0923; tel. 7371155; telex 33815; fax 7371940; Ambassador: D. H.
risions m
Workers' Party: Block 145, Jalan Bukit Merah, 01-1112, Singapore
VAN WOERDEN.
eriminal jur
0316; tel. 2738109; f. 1957, merged with Barisan Sosialis party in
New Zealand: 13 Nassim Rd, Singapore 1025; tel. 2359966; teles
Appeals f:
1988; seeks to establish a democratic socialist govt with a consti-
21244; fax 7339924; High Commissioner: COLIN BELL.
the Priv:
tution guaranteeing fundamental citizens' rights; Chair. WONG
when parti
HONG Toy; Sec.-Gen. J. B. JEYARETNAM.
Norway: 44-01 Hong Leong Bldg, 16 Raffles Quay, Singapore 0108
the heari
tel. 2207122; telex 21225; Ambassador: JENS OTTERBECH.
Other parties are the Alliance Party Singapura, the Barisan
the Privy
Sosialis (Socialist Front), the National Party of Singapore, Partai
Pakistan: 20A Nassim Rd, Singapore 1025; tel. 7376621; telm
to the P₁
Rakyat, the People's Front, Parti Kesatuan Ra'ayat (United Demo-
36777; High Commissioner: SALIM NAWAZ GANDABUR (acting).
the deat
cratic Party), People's Republican Party, Persatuan Melayu Singa-
Panama: 16 Raffles Quay, 41-06 Hong Leong Bldg, Singapore
Went that t
pura, Singapore Chinese Party, Singapore Indian Congress, United
0104; tel. 2218677; Ambassador: JORGE LUIS ALEMÁN.
Expeals to t
National Front and United People's Party.
Philippines: 20 Nassim Rd, Singapore 1025; tel. 7373977; tels
Storney-G.
34445; fax 7339544; Ambassador: FRANCISCO L. BENEDICTO.
Our Justic
Poland: 100 Beach Rd, 33-10PT/12 Shaw Towers, Singapore 071
Senior Judg
Diplomatic Representation
tel. 2942513/4; telex 26355; fax 2950016; Ambassador: PAWELL
Julsne Judi
CEISLAR.
Cos JOON Si
EMBASSIES AND HIGH COMMISSIONS
Romania: 48 Jalan Harom Setangkai, Singapore 1025; tel. 468348
KARTHIG
IN SINGAPORE
telex 22184; fax 4683425; Chargé d'affaires a.i.: IOAN BAN.
icial Co
Argentina: 302 Orchard Rd, 10-04 Tong Bldg, Singapore 0923;
Saudi Arabia: 541 Orchard Rd, 13-03/04 Liat Towers, Singapore
CHIU.
tel. 2354231; telex 23714; Ambassador: CARLOS LUCAS BLANCO.
0923; tel. 7345878; telex 25318; fax 7374657; Chargé d'affaire
Australia: 25 Napier Rd, Singapore 1025; tel. 7379311; telex 21238;
MOHAMMAD A. AL-HAMDAN.
fax 7337134; High Commissioner: ROSALEEN McGovern.
tel. 2544595; telex 26869; fax 2507201; High Commissioner.
Sri Lanka: Newton Rd, 1307-1312 Goldhill Plaza, Singapore W.
Bangladesh: 101 Thomson Rd, 06-07, United Sq., Singapore 1130;
1988 Bud
tel. 2550075; telex 23312; High Commissioner: Maj.-Gen. MOIN UL
JANAKA B. NAKKAWITA.
18.7%
HUSSAIN CHOUDHURY.
Sweden: Devonshire Wing, 111 Somerset Rd, 05-08 PUB
Lao Zi
Belgium: 10 Anson Rd, 09-24 International Plaza, Singapore 0207;
Singapore 0923; tel. 7342771; telex 23450; fax 7322958; Ambassed
religic
tel. 2207677; telex 23301; fax 2226976; Ambassador: CLAIRE
FINN BERGSTRAND.
trated 10
5%. 1
KIRSCHEN.
Switzerland: 1 Swiss Club Link, Singapore 1128; tel. 46853
F
Brazil: 302 Orchard Rd, 1503/4 Tong Bldg, Singapore 0923; tel.
telex 21501; fax 4668245; Ambassador: KURT O. WYSS.
7346777; telex 36204; Ambassador: A. B. PORTO DE OLIVEIRA.
Thailand: 370 Orchard Rd, Singapore 0923; tel. 7373372
Brunei: 7A Tanglin Hill, Singapore 1024; tel. 4743393; telex 24097;
35891; fax 7320778; Ambassador: ASDA JAYANAMA.
Sp
High Commissioner: Dato PADUKA AWANG Haji MOHAMMED
Turkey: 20B Nassim Rd, Singapore 1025; tel. 7329211; telex
Singaj
YUNOS BIN Haji MOHAMMED HUSSEIN.
Ambassador: Dr RIZA TÜRMEN.
Bulgaria: 15 Scotts Rd, 09-09 Thong Teck Bldg, Singapore 0922;
USSR: 51 Nassim Rd, Singapore 1025; tel. 2351834; telex
tel. 7371111; telex 21204; Ambassador: (vacant).
fax 7334780; Ambassador: ANATOLY MATFEYEVICH DRYUKOT.
Buddh
Canada: 80 Anson Rd, 14-00 and 15-01 IBM Towers, Singapore
United Kingdom: Tanglin Rd, Singapore 1024; tel. 4739333;
Ch
0207; tel. 225-6363; telex 21277; fax 2252450; High Commissioner:
21218; fax 4752320; High Commissioner: GORDON DUGGAN.
Singa;
SEAN BRADY.
USA: 30 Hill St, Singapore 0617; tel. 3380251; telex
4225
1
Chile: 105 Cecil St, The Octagon 14-01/02, Singapore 0106; tel.
3388472; Ambassador: D. ORR.
Singal
2238577; telex 34187; fax 2250677; Ambassador: CARLOS NEGRI
Si:
CHIORRINI.
Bud
China, People's Republic: 70-76 Dalvey Rd, Singapore 1025; tel.
7343360; telex 36878; fax 7338590; Ambassador: ZHANG QING.
Judicial System
Denmark: 101 Thomson Rd, 13-01/02 United Sq., Singapore 1130;
The judicial power of Singapore is vested in the Supreme
C
tel. 2503383; telex 24576; Chargé d'affaires: HANS JAKUP KASS.
and in the Subordinate Courts. The Supreme Court consists
High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Court of Criminal
(
Egypt: 75 Grange Rd, Singapore 1024; tel. 7371811; telex 23293;
mem-
Ambassador: ABBAS ZAKI.
The Chief Justice is appointed by the President, acting
Finland: 101 Thomson Rd, 21-02/03 United Sq., Singapore 1130;
advice of the Prime Minister. The other judges of the
tel. 2544042; telex 21489; fax 2534101; Ambassador: ERIK
Court are appointed in the same way, in consultation
Anglica
HEINRICHS.
Chief Justice. There are 10 judges, including the Chief
an.
France: 5 Gallop Rd, Singapore 1025; tel. 4664866; telex 21351;
the Supreme Court. Under a 1979 constitutional amendm was
to
the
position of judicial commissioner of the Supreme Court
of
Ambassador: BERNARD FAUBOURNET DE MONTFERRAND.
to facilitate the disposal of business in the Supreme
Germany: 545 Orchard Rd, 14-01 Far East Shopping Centre,
judicial commissioner has the powers and functions of a
Singapore 0923; tel. 7371355; telex 21312; fax 7372653; Ambassador:
is appointed for such period as the President thinks
Dr JOACHIM KAMPMANN.
were two judicial commissioners in 1991
The Subordinate Courts consist of District Courts,
Mage
Orthod
Holy See: 55 Waterloo St 6, Singapore 0718 (Apostolic Nunciature);
tel. 3372466; Apostolic Pro-Nuncio: Most Rev. ALBERTO TRICARIO,
Courts, Juvenile Courts, Coroners' Courts and the Small
act,
Titular Archbishop of Sistroniana (resident in Bangkok, Thailand).
Tribunal. District Judges, Magistrates and Coroners are
on the recommendation of the Chief Justice. There are
India: 31 Grange Rd, India House, Singapore 0923; tel. 7376777;
and Magistrates' Courts, one Juvenile Court and one
a
telex 25526; fax 7326909; High Commissioner: Y. M. TIWARI.
Se.
Court. A Referee, appointed by the President on the
2342
Direct
SINGAPORE
Directory
.7377422;
of the Chief Justice, presides over the Small Claims
108,601 adherents in the country, representing about 4% of the
total population.
Courts and Magistrates' Courts have original criminal
ingapore or: Dr Issue THE
District jurisdiction jurisdiction try offences for which the
Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Bru-
airil years of imprisonment and
nei: Archbishop's House, 31 Victoria St, Singapore 0718; tel.
cases where the amount claimed does not exceed S $50,000.
3378818; f. 1980; Pres. Most Rev. GREGORY YONG Sooi NGEAN,
ore 1130;
Courts try offences for which the maximum term of
Archbishop of Singapore.
Dr ROMULLS
does not exceed three years. The jurisdiction of
Archbishop of Singapore: Most Rev. GREGORY YONG Sooi
cases is limited to claims of under
3378818. NGEAN, Archbishop's House, 31 Victoria St, Singapore 0718; tel.
;;
telex
conducts inquests. The Small
2102
has jurisdiction over claims relating to a dispute
from any contract for the sale of goods or the provision of
Other Christian Churches
involving an amount less than S $2,000. The Juvenile
Brethren Assemblies: Bethesda Hall, 601 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4,
02/04, HANG-CHOM
deals with offences committed by young persons aged under
Singapore 2056; tel. 4587474; f. 1864; Hon. Sec. LIM TIAN LEONG;
High Court has unlimited original jurisdiction in criminal
Hon. Sec. T. C. KoH.
Bethesda (Katong) Church, 19 Pennefather Rd, Singapore 1542;
2350111;
dril cases. In its appellate jurisdiction it hears criminal and
Methodist Church in Singapore: 10 Mount Sophia, Singapore
F.
appeals from the District Courts and Magistrates' Courts.
0922; tel. 3375155; fax 3389575; f. 1885; 22,499 mems (July 1990);
tel.
7342
Court of Appeal hears appeals from any judgment or order
Bishop Ho CHEE SIN, 50 Barker Rd, Singapore 1130.
E.
High Court in any civil matter, either in original or appellate
Presbyterian Church: Moderator Rev. DEREK J. KINGSTON; 3
dor: rs, Sings
The by the High Court in the exercise of its original
Court of Criminal Appeal hears appeals against
Orchard Rd, cnr Penang Rd, Singapore 0923; tel. 3376681; f. 1856;
D.
services in English, Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, Indonesian and
2359966;
Repeals jurisdiction. from the Court of Appeal lie to the Judicial Committee
German; 1,500 mems.
Privy Council, the final appellate court of Singapore, only
Singapore Baptist Convention: c/o Baptist Book Store, 25 Goldhill
parties to the proceedings had consented in writing, prior
Plaza, Singapore 1130; tel. 2506404; fax 2545488; Chair. Rev. M. S.
SONG; Sec. NG HENG FATT.
ngapore
bearing before the appellate court, to be bound by an Appeal
ECH.
Privy Council. Appeals from the Court of Criminal Appeal
Other denominations active in Singapore include the Lutheran
376621;
the Privy Council only in cases involving crimes punishable
Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
(acting)
the
death penalty or life imprisonment, and then only in the
that the decision of the appellate court was not unanimous.
HINDUISM
g, Singar
Appeals to the Privy Council are conducted in the United Kingdom.
Hindu Advisory Board: c/o Ministry of Community Development,
373977;
TAN BOON TEIK.
Pearl's SELVADURAL Hill Terrace, Singapore 0316; tel. 914111; f. 1917; Chair. P.
EDICTO
Chief
Justice: YONG PUNG How.
gapore
Judge: T. S. SINNATHURAY.
ISLAM
dor.
PARK
Judges: LAI KEW CHAI, L. P. THEAN, CHAN SEK KEONG,
Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) (Islamic Religious Coun-
JOON SENG, CHAO HICK TIN, F. A. CHUA, P. COOMARASWAMY,
cil): c/o Ministry of Community Development, Islamic Centre of
tel.
46834
KARTHIGESU.
Singapore, 273 Braddell Road, Singapore 2057; tel. 2568188; fax
BAN.
licial Commissioners: TAN TEOW YEOW, S. RAJENDRAN, LAI
2537572; f. 1968; Pres. SHAFAWI AHMAD.
'S, Sings
CHTU.
Muslim Missionary Society Singapore (Jamiyah): 31 Lorong 12
é
Geylang, Singapore 1439; tel. 7431211; telex 34725; fax 7450160;
Religion
Pres. Haji ABU BAKAR MAIDIN; Sec.-Gen. JAAFAR MAJORI.
gapore Its
sioner.
1988 Buddhists constituted 28.3% of the total population, Chris-
SIKHISM
18.7% and Daoists (including followers of Confucius, Mencius
Sikh Advisory Board: c/o Ministry of Community Development,
PUB
Lao Zi) 13.4%. Most of the Chinese community adhere to
Pearl's Hill Terrace, Singapore 0316; Chair. HARBANS SINGH.
Ambasse
religions. The Muslims, predominantly Malays, comprised an
stimated 16% of the population, and the Hindus, mainly Indians,
el.
4685
evarty 5%. There are also small communities of Zoroastrians, Jains
The Press
Jews. Freedom of worship is guaranteed by the Constitution.
Compulsory government scrutiny of newspaper management has
73372;
BAHÁ'Í FAITH
been in operation since 1974. All newspaper enterprises must be
telex
National Spiritual Assembly: 68 Lorong 16, Geylang, Assen Bldg,
public companies. In August 1986 there were more than 3,700
86-03 Singapore 1439; tel. 7476192; fax 7475521
foreign publications circulating in Singapore. The Newspaper and
Printing Presses (Amendment) Act 1986 empowers the Govern-
telex
BUDDHISM
ment to restrict the circulation of foreign periodicals that are
YUKOV
The
deemed to exert influence over readers on domestic political issues.
Buddhist Union: 28 Jalan Senyum, Singapore 1441; tel.
39333;
K35859: Chief Abbot YEN PEI.
An amendment to the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act was
GAN.
promulgated in October 1990. Under this amendment, all publi-
Phe
Singapore Buddhist Federation: 50 Lorong 34 Geylang,
cations of which the 'contents and editorial policy were determined
42289,
Singapore 1439; tel. 7444635.
outside Singapore' and which dealt with politics and current events
The
Singapore Buddhist Sangha Organization: 50 Lorong 34
in South-East Asia would be required to obtain a ministerial
Geylang. Singapore 1439.
licence, renewable annually. The permit would limit the number
wrid Buddhist Society: Singapore 0409; tel. 2725306.
of copies sold and require a deposit in case of legal proceedings
involving the publication. Permits could be refused or revoked
CHRISTIANITY
without any reason being given. In November, however, a state-
reme
Coult
National Council of Churches: 1 Sophia Rd, 04-34 Peace Centre,
ment was issued exempting 14 of the 17 foreign publications
sists of
affected by the amendment, which came into effect in December.
nal Appli
Ingapore 0922; tel. 3372150; f. 1975; seven mem. churches, four
ing on
mems; Pres. G. ABISHEGANADEN; Gen. Sec. P. S. GEORGE.
DAILIES
e Supreme
The Anglican Communion
English Language
1 with
Justice,
& Anglican diocese of Singapore (also including Indonesia, Laos,
Business Times: Times House, 390 Kim Seng Rd, Singapore
iment,
Visailand and Cambodia) is extra-provincial and is directly subordi-
0923; tel. 7370011; telex 21239; fax 7335271; f. 1976; Editor MANO
see to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primate of All England.
SABNANI; circ. 23,000 (Singapore only).
as
Court
of Singapore: The Rt Rev. Dr MOSES LENG KONG TAY,
The New Paper: News Centre, 82 Genting Lane, Singapore 1334;
judge,
Bropsbourne, 4 Bishopsgate, Singapore 1024; tel. 4741661.
tel. 7438800; telex 55148; fax 7449949; f. 1988; Editor P.N. BALJI;
fit.
circ. 64,000 (Singapore only).
Orthodox Churches
The Straits Times: News Centre, 82 Genting Lane, Singapore
agistrate
Orthodox Syrian Church and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church
1334; tel. 7438800; telex 55148; fax 7449949; f. 1845; Editor LESLIE
all
& both active in Singapore.
FONG; circ. 314,500 (Singapore only).
appoint
30 District
The Roman Catholic Church
Chinese Language
Corona
pore comprises a single archdiocese, directly responsible to
Lianhe Wanbao: News Centre, 82 Genting Lane, Singapore 1334;
Holy See. At 31 December 1989 there were an estimated
tel. 7438800; telex 55653; fax 7466878; f. 1983; evening; Editor Loy
TECK JUAN; circ. 85,500.
2343
SINGAPORE
Directory
SINGAPOR
Lianhe ZaoBao: News Centre, 82 Genting Lane, Singapore 1334;
tel. 7438800; telex 55653; fax 7466878; f. 1983; Chief Editor Loy
Young Parents: Times Periodicals Pte Ltd, 422 Thomson Rd,
Singapore 1129; tel. 2550011; fax 2568016; quarterly; family; Editor
Cumpmen Pt
TECK JUAN; circ. 183,000.
TAN WANG Joo; circ. 20,000.
Centre.
Shin Min Daily News (S) Ltd: News Centre, 82 Genting Lane,
medemic, ch
Singapore 1334; tel. 7438800; telex 55148; fax 7449949; f. 1967;
Chinese Language
IFB Publis)
Editor SENG HAN THONG; circ. 90,000.
Characters-Singapore Edition: 42 MacTaggart Rd, 06-02 Mar-
Sugapore 03
Malay Language
Taggart Bldg, Singapore 1336; tel. 2866733; fax 2895413; f. 1982
stonal Publ
45,000. monthly; television and entertainment; Editor JESSICA Li; cire
magazin
Berita Harian: News Centre, 82 Genting Lane, Singapore 1334;
Federal Pub
tel. 7438800; telex 55148; fax 7449949; f. 1957; morning; Editor
The Citizen: People's Association, Kallang, Singapore 1439; tal
tel. 28
MOHAMED GUNTOR SADALI; circ. 46,000 (Singapore only).
3448222; telex 38891; monthly; English and Chinese.
'dren's an
Malayalam Language
NTUC Lifestyle: 1 New Industrial Rd, Times Centre, Singapore
Intern
Malaysia Malayali: Toa Payoh Central, Singapore 9131; tel.
1953; tel. 2848844; telex 25713; fax 2881186; f. 1987; bimonthly.
pre 2261; te
7450451; f. 1938; Publr L. F. LLOYD GEORGE; Man. Editor V.P.
English and Chinese; travel and leisure; Editor MICHAEL CHEAK
aference, ct
circ. 150,000.
Graham Br.
ABDULLAH; circ. 2,500 (Singapore and Malaysia).
Punters' Way-Singapore Edition: 42 MacTaggart Rd, 06-02 Mar
RE5161; tel
Tamil Language
Taggart Bldg, Singapore 1336; tel. 2866733; fax 2895413; f. 1972
abrational;
90,000. biweekly; English and Chinese; sport; Editor T.S. PHAN; circ.
CAMPBELL.
Tamil Murasu: 139-141 Lavender St, Singapore 1233; tel. 2923116;
fax 2932941; f. 1936; Editor V. T. ARASU; circ. 8,500 (daily), 10,000
Harper & R
(Sunday).
Racing Guide: 1 New Industrial Rd, Times Centre, Singapore
Union In
1953; tel. 2848844; telex 25713; fax 2881186; f. 1987; 2 a week
this 28212;
WEEKLIES
English and Chinese; sport; Editorial Consultant BENNY ORTEGE
refert
English Language
Chinese Editor KUEK CHIEW TEONG; circ. 20,000.
F
Com
Sunday Times: News Centre, 82 Genting Lane, Singapore 1334;
Radio & TV Times (Chinese): Caldecott Hill, Thomson Rd, Since
tel. 86
tel. 7438800; telex 55148; fax 7449949; f. 1845; Editor LESLIE
pore 1129; tel. 2560401; telex 39265; fax 2538808; f. 1981; weekly.
and pt
FONG; circ. 352,000 (Singapore only).
Editors WONG KHUIK PHIN, WONG Or KUAN; circ. 150,000.
Extitute of
Singapore Literature: Singapore Literature Society, 122B Sixe
Fair
Panja
Malay Language
Berita Minggu: News Centre, 82 Genting Lane, Singapore 1334;
LUO-MING. Ave, Singapore 1438; quarterly; Pres. YAP KOON CHAN; Editer
43735; f. 1.
the Paci
tel. 7438800; telex 55148; fax 7449949; f. 1957; Sunday; Editor
Tune Monthly Magazine: Block 203A Henderson Industrial Part
ellectual
MOHAMED GUNTOR SADALI; circ. 58,000 (Singapore only).
Henderson Rd 06-04; Singapore 0315; tel. 2733000; fax 274953
Mustrial E
f. 1988; monthly; women's and fashion; Editor CHAN ENG; des
##108; f. 1
SELECTED PERIODICALS
25,000.
man S
English Language
Video Magazine: Block 293A Henderson Industrial Park, Hender
Jurong
son Rd 06-04; Singapore 0315; tel. 2733000; fax 2749538; 1
81740, tex
Beauty Incorporating Health and Leisure: 05-01/06 Eng Cheong
monthly; Editor CHAN ENG; circ. 30,000.
KING.
Tower, 5611 North Bridge Road, Singapore 0719; tel. 2966558;
telex 26646; fax 2966275; f. 1988; bimonthly; Editor-in-Chief CHIN
Young Generation: EPB Publishers Pte Ltd, Block 162, Bull
MEI NGo; circ. 20,000.
Merah Central, 04-3545, Singapore 0315; tel. 2780881; telex 565
3654633
monthly; Editors WINSTON LAM, KoH SWEE YANG; circ. 80,00%
Dir ST
Cherie Magazine: 12 Everton Rd, Singapore 0208; tel. 2229733;
Man
fax 2843859; f. 1983; bimonthly; women's; Editor JOSEPHINE NG;
circ. 20,000.
NEWS AGENCIES
spore 2
Foreign Bureaux
general:
Go: Times Periodicals Pte Ltd, 422 Thomson Rd, Singapore 1129;
tel. 2550011; fax 2568016; f. 1980; monthly; women's; Editor TAN
Agence France-Presse (AFP): Maxwell Rd, POB 1847, Singa
yan L
WANG Joo; circ. 34,000.
9036; tel. 2228581; telex 21255; Bureau Chief MICHELE Coors
Sin,
law
Her World: Times Periodicals Pte Ltd, 422 Thomson Rd, Singapore
Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA) (Italy): 37
Lane, Singapore 1027; tel. 4690265; telex 38629; fax 467196
Pt
1129; tel. 2550011; fax 2568016; f. 1956; monthly; women's; Editor
TAN WANG Joo; circ. 34,000.
Correspondent ALFONSO MAFFETTONE.
B,
UI
fax
Home and Decor: Times Periodicals Pte Ltd, 422 Thomson Rd,
Associated Press (AP) (USA): 6 Battery Rd, 23-02
Singapore 1129; tel. 2550011; fax 2568016; 6 a year; home-owners;
Chartered Bank Bldg, Singapore 0104; tel. 2201849; telex
Editor SOPHIE KHo; circ. 20,000.
Bureau Chief KENNETH L. WHITING.
Uni
7
Man-Life & Style: 322A Jalan Besar, SLS Bldg, Singapore 0820;
Informatsionnoye Agentstvo Novosti (IAN) (USSR): 8
2:
tel. 2968178; telex 24200; fax 2968319; f. 1986; bimonthly; men's;
Grove, Singapore 1026; tel. 4667998; telex 21703; fax
Editor MICHAEL CHIANG; circ. 20,000.
Correspondent MIKHAIL I. IDAMKIN.
Motoring: 190 Middle Rd, 14-07 Fortune Centre, Singapore 0718;
Jiji Press Ltd (Jiji Tsushin-sha) (Japan): 10 Anson Rd
tel. 337055; telex 51088; fax 3394857; f. 1982; bimonthly; Editor
International Plaza, Singapore 0207; tel. 2244212; telex 2850$
GUY CoH; circ. 20,000.
2240711; Correspondent TAKASHI YAGI.
Radio & TV Times (English): Caldecott Hill, Thomson Rd, Singa-
Kyodo News Service (Japan): Singapore; tel. 2233371; telex
S
pore 1129; tel. 2560401; telex 39265; fax 2538808; f. 1980; weekly;
Chief MIKIO KOBAYASHI.
Editor ONG LAY TEEN; circ. 46,000.
Pan-Asia Newspaper Alliance (PANANEWS): 1 Finlayson
Republic of Singapore Government Gazette: Singapore National
14-12 Asia Insurance Bldg, Singapore 0207; tel. 2244837;
Printers Ltd, 303 Upper Serangoon Rd, POB 485, Singapore 1334;
pondent CHIN KAH CHONG.
tel. 2820611; telex 24462; fax 2854894; weekly; Friday.
Press Trust of India (PTI): Singapore; tel. 2225964; Carn
Reservist: 5200 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 0315; tel. 2786011;
dent E. M. RASHEED.
telex 28837; fax 2737441; f. 1973; bimonthly; men's; Editor PAUL
Reuters Singapore Pte Ltd: 50 Raffles Place, 17-01 Shell
JANSEN; circ. 95,000.
Singapore 0104; tel. 2253848; telex 21290; fax 2259317;
Singapore Business: Times Periodicals Pte Ltd, 390 Kim Seng
P. MELCHIOR.
Rd, Singapore 0923; tel. 7370011; telex 21239; fax 7335271; f. 1977;
Telegrafnoye Agentstvo Sovetskovo Soyuza (TASS) (USS
monthly; Editor MANO SABNANI; circ. 10,000.
Cairnhill Rd, 04-09 Elizabeth Height, Singapore 0922; tel
Singapore Business Yearbook: Times Periodical Pte Ltd, 390
telex 28231; Correspondent VLADIMIR KOVALENKO.
Kim Seng Rd, Singapore 0923; tel. 7370011; telex 21239; f. 1972;
United Press International (UPI) (USA): Shaw Towers, 2608
yearly; Editor MANO SABNANI; circ. 12,000.
10, 100 Beach Rd, Singapore 0718; tel. 2946289; telex
Singapore Medical Journal: Singapore Medical Association, Level
2985946; Man. RUTH YOUNGBLOOD.
2, Alumni Medical Centre, 2 College Rd, Singapore. 0316; tel.
Bernama (Malaysia) and Xinhua (People's Republic of
2231264; fax 2247827; 6 a year; Editor Dr CHEE YAM CHENG.
also represented.
Times Guide to Computers: 1 New Industrial Rd, Times Centre,
Singapore 1953; tel. 2848844; telex 25713; fax 2881186; f. 1986;
annually; computing and communications; Sales and Marketing
Publishers
Man. LESLIE LIM; circ. 22,000.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Woman's Affair: 305 UBI Ave, 02-169 Singapore 1648; tel.
Addison-Wesley (S) Pte Ltd: 15 Beach Rd, 05-09/10 Beach
7472822; telex 35361; fax 7472811; f. 1988; 10 a year; Editor GLORIA
FU; circ. 22,000.
Singapore 0718; tel. 3397503; telex 20904; fax 3399709;
computing and professional books; Man. Dir PAUL GOULD
2344
SCAPORE
Directory
Publishers: 865 Mountbatten Rd, 05-28/29 Katong Shop-
Pustaka Nasional Pte Ltd: 100 Beach Rd, 13-11 Shaw Towers,
Singapore 1543; tel. 3441495; fax 3440180; f. 1963;
Singapore 0718; tel. 2941917; telex 26746; Malay and Islamic reli-
children's and general; Man. Dir N. T. S. CHOPRA.
gious books; Man. Dir SYED AHMAD BIN MUHAMAD.
Hishers Pte Ltd: Block 162, 04-3545 Bukit Merah Central,
0315; tel. 2780881; telex 56289; fax 2782456; fmrly Edu-
CHINESE LANGUAGE
Pablications Bureau Chinese; Gen. Man. AU Pui CHUAN.
Pte Ltd; textbooks, general, reference
Shanghai Book Co (Pte) Ltd: 81 Victoria St, Singapore 0718; tel.
3360144; telex 29297; fax 2243270; f. 1925; educational and general;
Pte Ltd: 1 New Industrial Rd, Singapore
Man. Dir Mrs CHEN MONG HOCK.
the the and books; Gen. Man. Y. H. MEW.
fax 2889254; f. 1957; educational,
Shing Lee Publishers Pte Ltd: 120 Hillview Ave, 05-06/07 Kewal-
ram Hillview, Singapore 2366; tel. 7601388; telex 39255; fax
national Pte Ltd: 348 Jalan Boon Lay, Jurong, Singa-
7625684; f. 1935; educational and general; Man. PEH CHIN HUA.
tel. 2650311; telex 25601; fax 2655103; f. 1960; textbooks,
Union Book Co (Pte) Ltd: 231 Bain St 03-01, Bras Basah Complex,
children's and dictionaries; Gen. Man. RICHARD ToH.
Singapore 0718; tel. 3380696; fax 3386306; general and reference;
Brash (Pte) Ltd: 36-C Prinsep St, Singapore 0718; tel.
Gen. Man. CHOW LI-LIANG.
telex 23718; fax 3384583; f. 1956; general, academic,
English, Chinese and Malay; Man. Dir Mrs K. C.
TAMIL LANGUAGE
Row Publishers, Asia Pte Ltd: 37 Jalan Pemimpin, 02-
EVS Enterprises: 629 Upper Serangoon Rd, Singapore 1953; tel.
Industrial Bldg, Block A, Singapore 2057; tel. 2583577;
2830002; f. 1967; children's books, religion and general; Man. E. V.
SINGHAN.
38212: fax 2594286; f. 1983; educational, children's, profes-
reference, medical and general; Sales Man. BERNARD TANG.
Government Publishing House
Communications (Pte) Ltd: 38 Joo Koon Rd, Singapore
36201; fax 8616438; f. 1971; travel guides,
Singapore National Printers (Pte) Ltd: 303 Upper Serangoon
Rd, Singapore 1334; tel. 22308340; fax 2887246.
photography; Publr HANS HOEFER.
of Southeast Asian Studies: Heng Mui Keng Terrace,
PUBLISHERS' ASSOCIATION
Pariang Rd, Singapore 0511; tel. 7780955; telex 37068; fax
L 1968; scholarly works on contemporary South-East Asia
Singapore Book Publishers' Association: c/o Chopmen Publrs,
Pacific; Dir Prof. KERNIAL S. SANDHU.
865 Mountbatten Rd, 05-28 Katong Shopping Centre, Singapore
Publishing Co: 113 Eunos Ave 3, 04-08 Gordon
1543; tel. 3441495; fax 3440180; Hon. Sec. N. T. S. CHOPRA.
Bldg, Singapore 1440; tel. 7466025; telex 55708; fax
1 1971; Propr POH BE LECK.
Singapore Publishers (Pte) Ltd: 25 First Lok Yang
Radio and Television
Lurong Town, Singapore 2262; tel. 2682666; telex 24268; fax
textbooks, medicine, science, technology; Man. Dir WEE
In 1990 there were 649,848 radio and 560,153 television licences.
KING.
Singapore Broadcasting Corpn (SBC): Caldecott Hill, Andrew
Hill Book Co: 21 Neythal Rd, Jurong, Singapore 2262;
Rd, Singapore 1129; tel. 2560401; telex 39265; f. 1980, taking over
IN54633; telex 36791; fax 2652972; f. 1969; general educational;
the functions of Radio-Television Singapore and the collection of
Dir STEVEN GOH.
radio and television licence fees; nine radio services and three TV
Marmillan Southeast Asia Pte Ltd: 41 Jalan Pemimpin, 03-04,
channels; Chair. Dr CHEONG CHOONG KONG; Gen. Man. MOSES
Copore 2057; tel. 2581337; telex 23196; fax 2588270; educational
LEE.
general; Marketing Dir JACOB KANG
Law Journal Pte Ltd: 3 Shenton Way, 14-03 Shenton
RADIO
Singapore 0106; tel. 2203684; telex 42890; fax 2255026;
Far East Broadcasting (FEBA Ltd): POB 751, Robinson Rd,
law texts and journals; Man. Dir STEPHEN STOUT
Singapore 9015; tel. 2225418; telex 25281; fax 2221805; f. 1960;
Publishing Asia Pte Ltd: 37 Jalan Pemimpin, 07-04,
Chair. GOH EWE KHENG; Exec. Dir DAVID L. CHEN.
B. Union Industrial Bldg, Singapore 2057; tel. 2583255; telex
Rediffusion (Singapore) Pte Ltd: 1 Jalan Selanting, Singapore
fax 2588279; educational and general; Man. Dir CHARLES
2159; tel. 4671144; telex 24114; fax 4663888; f. 1949; commercial
wired broadcasting service; broadcasts two programmes in Manda-
2121
@dard
University Press Pte Ltd: Unit 221, Ubi Ave 4, Singapore
rin (18 hours daily) and English (24 hours daily) to over 102,000
tel. 7431066; telex 37960; fax 7425915; f. 1955; educational,
listeners (1990); Man. Dir WONG BAN KUAN.
Name
andernic and general; Man. GOH TEOW HUAT
SBC-Radio Singapore: Farrer Rd, POB 60, Singapore 9128; tel.
FG Publishing Pte Ltd: 304 Orchard Rd, 04-20/22 Lucky Plaza,
2560401; telex 39265; f. 1936; operates nine services, in English
Suppore 0923; tel. 2357700; telex 39967; fax 2357934; medical;
(four), Chinese (Mandarin) (two), Malay (two) and Tamil, including
Barketing Man. LEW KoK LIAT.
a 24-hour popular music service in English; broadcasts 1,213 hours
fur
Ptd Ltd: 621 Aljunied Rd, 06-01 Lipo Bldg, Singapore 1438;
per week; Gen. Man. MOSES LEE; Dir Mrs CHUA Foo YONG.
1474725; f. 1975; law texts, magazines; Dir NIRMAI SINGH.
Seem & Schuster Asia Pte Ltd: 24 Pasir Panjang Rd, 04-31 PSA
TELEVISION
Raiti Storey Complex, Singapore 0511; tel. 2789611; telex 37270;
Green
SBC-Television Singapore: Farrer Rd, POB 60, Singapore 9128;
2734400; f. 1975; educational; Man. Dir STEPHEN M. SMITH
Correct
tel. 2560401; telex 39265; f. 1963; three channels; colour transmis-
Sugapore Book Emporium: 120 Hillview Ave, 05-0607 Kewalram
sions since 1974; total weekly average of 178 hours; education
Elview, Singapore 2366; tel. 7601388; telex 39255; f. 1961;
service of 6 hours weekly; programmes in Malay, Chinese (Manda-
mestbooks, children's, reference, dictionaries, cookery, general;
rin), Tamil and English; teletext service on two channels; Gen.
In Dir PEH CHIN HUA.
Man. MOSES LEE.
Toste
Segapore University Press Pte Ltd: National University of
an.
Engzpore, Yusof Ishak House, Kent Ridge, Singapore 0511; tel.
7761148; telex 51112; f. 1971; scholarly; Editor and Man. PATRICIA
SRE
TAX
Finance
344142
Damford College Publishers: 218 Queen St, Singapore 0718; tel.
(cap. = capital; p.u. = paid up; dep. = deposits; m. = million;
EB0688; telex 25596; fax 3395825; f. 1970; general, educational and
uite
brs = branches; amounts in Singapore dollars)
yermals; Man. L. P. NICHOL.
Times Editions Pte Ltd: Times Centre, 1 New Industrial Rd,
BANKING
Strapore 1953; tel. 2848844; telex 37908; fax 2854871; f. 1978;
ina)
paticical, social and cultural books, general works on Asia; Asst
The Singapore monetary system is regulated by the Monetary
Man. SHIRLEY HEW.
Authority of Singapore (MÁS) and the Ministry of Finance. The
Valid Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd: Farrer Road, POB 128,
MAS performs all the functions of a central bank, except the
capore 9128; tel. 3825663; telex 28561; fax 3825919; f. 1980;
issuing of currency, a function which is carried out by the Board
trademic texts and science journals; Man. Dir DOREEN LIU.
of Commissioners of Currency. The Government of Singapore
Investment Corporation was founded in 1981 under the chairman-
MALAY LANGUAGE
ship of the Prime Minister. In February 1991 there were 137
Centre
Malaysia Press Sdn Bhd (Pustaka Melayu): 745-747 North Bridge
commercial banks (13 local, 124 foreign) and 49 representative
Singapore 0719; tel. 2933454; f. 1962; textbooks and edu-
offices in Singapore. Of the banks, 35 were fully licensed, 14 had
NG.
Man. Dir ABU TALIB BIN ALLY
restricted licences and 88 foreign banks had 'offshore' banking
licences.
2345
SINGAPORE
Director
Barwil Agencies Pte Ltd: 200 Cantonment Rd, 07-02 Southport,
Singapore 0208; tel. 2252577; telex 23057; fax 2252538; services to
Syabas Tankers Pte Ltd: 10 Anson Rd, 34-10 International Plan
Singapore 0207; tel. 2259522; telex 26049; 3 vessels.
the USA, Canada and the Persian Gulf; Man. Dir HANS DYRLIE.
Everett Steamship Corpn SA: 24 Raffles Place, 17-03 Clifford
CIVIL AVIATION
Centre, Singapore 0104; tel. 5325481; telex 21306; fax 5325486;
cargo services; shipping agents; Gen. Man. P. M. PANDOLFO.
Singapore's international airport at Changi was opened in 1981
Guan Guan Shipping Pte Ltd: 23 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 0104;
In late 1990 a second passenger terminal came into operation
tel. 2219790; telex 21395; fax 5343504; f. 1955; shipowners and
which more than doubled the airport's capacity, to 24m. passengers
per year.
agents; cargo services to East and West Malaysia, Indonesia,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bengal Bay ports, Persian Gulf ports, Hong
Singapore Airlines Ltd (SIA): Airline House, 25 Airline Rd
Kong and China; 5 vessels; Man. Dir T. E. Go.
Singapore 1781; tel. 5423333; telex 21241; fax 5424155; f. 1972
Location
passenger services to 59 cities in 34 countries, including Australia
Solomon
Hin Leong Marine International (Pte) Ltd: 1 Playfair Rd, Singa-
Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, the People's
south-we
pore 1336; tel. 2835694; telex 38835; 45 vessels; Marine Supt V.
LIM.
Republic of China, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong
country
Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malay
north-we
Nedlloyd EAC Agencies Pte Ltd: 138 Robinson Rd, 01-00 Hong
sia, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand
Islands (!
Leong Centre, Singapore 0106; tel. 2218989; telex 21261; fax
Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia. Sn
2249106; f. 1963; agency for Nedlloyd Lines and Scandutch I/S
Hlands,
Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United King
partnership; Gen. Man. VAN RAPPARD.
dom, and the USA; Chair. J. Y. PILLAY; Man. Dir CHEONG CHOONE
equatoria
KONG; fleet of 8 B747-400, 11 B747-300, 3 B747-300 Combi, 5 B747
trade wi
Neptune Orient Lines Ltd: 456 Alexandra Rd, PDS 06-00 NOL
200, 8 A310-300, 6 A310-200, 1 747-200F.
17°C (81
Bldg, Singapore 0511; tel. 2789000; telex 51168; fax 2784900; f. 1968;
35 in).
liner containerized services on the Far East/Europe, Far
sidgin El
East/North America, Straits/Australia, South Asia/Europe and
Tourism
differe
South-East Asia, Far East/Mediterranean routes; tankers, bulk
carriers and dry cargo vessels on charter; 44 vessels; Chair. H. R.
to the wh
HOCHSTADT; Man. Dir LUA CHENG ENG.
Christiar
Singapore's tourist attractions include a blend of cultures and
beliefs.
New Straits Shipping Co Pte Ltd: 51 Anson Rd, 09-53 Anson
excellent shopping facilities. The Centre for Tourism-Related
Centre, Singapore 0207; tel. 2201007; telex 23150; fax 2240785; 3
triangles
Studies was established in 1987 to train about 1,000 members
d
vessels.
spex in
the tourism industry per year in tour operations, ticketing, ship
by and it
Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd: 140 Cecil St, 03-00 PIL Bldg,
and marketing. Tourist arrivals reached 4,829,950 in 1989, increas
yellow di
Singapore 0106; tel. 2218133; telex 24190; fax 2258741; shipowners,
ing by 10%, to an estimated 5,313,223, in 1990.
Eve whit
agents and managers; liner services to the Far East, India, the
Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, West and East Africa; container
Singapore Convention Bureau: Raffles City Tower 37-00.
in the u;
North Bridge Road, Singapore 0617; tel. 3396622; telex 3337x 1
Geadalca
services to South-East Asia; world-wide chartering, freight for-
1974; a division of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board: Dir.
warding; 51 vessels; Chair. and Man. Dir Y. C. CHANG.
Dir KEVIN LEONG.
Recent I
Pacific Navigation Co Pte Ltd: 3 Shenton Way, 21-08 Shenton
House, Singapore 0106; tel. 2225688; telex 26003; fax 2259897; six
Singapore Tourist Promotion Board: Raffles City Tower 36-04
The nort!
vessels; Man. Dir B. FORSELL.
250 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 0617; tel. 3396622; telex 33378
1885
fax 3399423; f. 1964; Chair. LEONG CHEE WHYE.
1593. Re
be the B
Thest of 1
Lited I
known a-
Mader th
(APHC)
The S
the a f
seaptur
proto
Refred
state to
Under
the
of
the
C
dired
in
of
Described
a
in
2350
World Factbook 1990
Singapore
IRC, itu, Mano River Union, NAM,
US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU,
commitments (1970-87), $698 million;
10 km
WHO, WMO, WTO
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $18 million;
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador
Pulau
Communist countries (1970-88), $101 mil-
Selat
Tekong
George CAREW; Chancery at 1701 19th
lion
Johor
Selat
Pulau
Woodlands
Johor
Ubin
Besar
Street NW, Washington DC 20009; tele-
Currency: leone (plural-leones); 1 leone
phone (202) 939-9261; US-Ambassador
(Le) = 100 cents
Changi
Johnny YOUNG; Embassy at the corner
Exchange rates: leones per US$1-
of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Street,
Jurong
87.7193 (January 1990), 58.1395 (1989),
Freetown; telephone 26481
31.2500 (1988), 30.7692 (1987), 8.3963
SINGAPORE
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of light
(1986), 4.7304 (1985)
Sentosa
green (top), white, and light blue
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Economy
Communications
Singapore Strait
Main Strait
Overview: The economic and social infra-
Railroads: 84 km 1.067-meter narrow-
structure is not well developed. Subsis-
gauge mineral line is used on a limited
See regional map IX
tence agriculture dominates the economy,
basis because the mine at Marampa is
generating about one-third of GDP and
closed
employing about two-thirds of the working
Highways: 7,400 km total; 1,150 km bitu-
Geography
population. Manufacturing accounts for
minous, 490 km laterite (some gravel), re-
less than 10% of GDP, consisting mainly
mainder improved earth
Total area: 632.6 km²; land area: 622.6
of the processing of raw materials and of
Inland waterways: 800 km; 600 km navi-
km²
light manufacturing for the domestic mar-
gable year round
Comparative area: slightly less than 3.5
ket. Diamond mining provides an impor-
Ports: Freetown, Pepel
times the size of Washington, DC
tant source of hard currency. The econ-
Civil air: no major transport aircraft
Land boundaries: none
any suffers from high unemployment,
Airports: 12 total, 8 usable; 5 with
Coastline: 193 km
rising inflation, large trade deficits, and a
permanent-surface runways; none with
Maritime claims:
growing dependency on foreign assistance.
runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways
GDP: $965 million, per capita $250; real
Exclusive fishing zone: not specific
2,440-3,659 m; 3 with runways
Territorial sea: 3 nm
growth rate 1.8% (FY87)
1,220-2,439 m
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 42% (Sep-
Telecommunications: marginal telephone
pronounced rainy or dry seasons; thunder-
tember 1988)
and telegraph service; national microwave
Unemployment rate: NA%
storms occur on 40% of all days (67% of
radio relay system unserviceable at
days in April)
Budget: revenues $86 million; expenditures
present; 23,650 telephones; stations—1
$128 million, including capital expendi-
Terrain: lowland; gently undulating cen-
AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean
tral plateau contains water catchment
tures of $NA (FY90 est.)
INTELSAT earth station
area and nature preserve
Exports: $106 million (f.o.b., 1988); com-
modities-rutile 50%, bauxite 17%, cocoa
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Defense Forces
11%, diamonds 3%, coffee 3%; partners-
Land use: 4% arable land; 7% permanent
US. UK, Belgium, FRG, other Western
crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 5% for-
Branches: Army, Navy
est and woodland; 84% other
Europe
Military manpower: males 15-49, 918,078;
Imports: $167 million (c.i.f., 1988); com-
Environment: mostly urban and industrial-
433,350 fit for military service; no con-
ized
modities-capital goods 40%, food 32%,
scription
Note: focal point for Southeast Asian sea
petroleum 12%, consumer goods 7%, light
Defense expenditures: 1% of GDP (1986)
routes
industrial goods; partners-US, EC, Ja-
pan, China, Nigeria
People
External debt: $805 million (1989 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 19%
(FY88 est.)
Population: 2,720,915 (July 1990), growth
Electricity: 83,000 kW capacity; 180 mil-
rate 1.3% (1990)
lion kWh produced, 45 kWh per capita
Birth rate: 18 births/1,000 population
(1989)
(1990)
Industries: mining (diamonds, bauxite,
Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population
ratile), small-scale manufacturing (bever-
(1990)
ages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear), petro-
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 pop-
leurn refinery
ulation (1990)
Agriculture: accounts for over 30% of
Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live
GDP and two-thirds of the labor force;
births (1990)
largely subsistence farming; cash crops-
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male,
coffee, cocoa, palm kernels; harvests of
77 years female (1990)
th.
food staple rice meets 80% of domestic
Total fertility rate: 2.0 children born/
needs: annual fish catch averages 53,000
woman (1990)
metric tons
Nationality: noun-Singaporean(s), adjec-
D.
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im
tive-Singapore
PU.
(FY70-88), $149 million; Western (non-
Ethnic divisions: 76.4% Chinese, 14.9%
Malay, 6.4% Indian, 2.3% other
279
Singapore (continued)
Religion: majority of Chinese are Bud-
ESCAP, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
Electricity: 4,000,000 kW capacity;
dhists or atheists; Malays nearly all Mus-
ICAO, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
lim (minorities include Christians, Hindus,
12,000 million kWh produced, 4,490 kWh
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ISO,
per capita (1989)
Sikhs, Taoists, Confucianists)
ITU, NAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU,
Language: Chinese, Malay, Tamil, and
Industries: petroleum refining, electronics,
WHO, WMO, WTO
English (official); Malay (national)
oil drilling equipment, rubber processing
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador
Literacy: 86.8% (1987)
and rubber products, processed food and
Tommy KOH Tong Bee; Chancery at
Labor force: 1,280,000; 34.4% industry,
beverages, ship repair, entrepôt trade, fi-
1824 R Street NW, Washington DC
1.2% agriculture, 61.7% services (1988)
nancial services, biotechnology
20009; telephone (202) 667-7555; US
Organized labor: 211,200; 16.5% of labor
Agriculture: occupies a position of minor
Ambassador Robert D. ORR; Embassy at
force (1988)
importance in the economy; self-sufficient
30 Hill Street, Singapore 0617 (mailing
in poultry and eggs; must import much of
address is FPO San Francisco 96699);
Government
other food; major crops-rubber, copra,
telephone [65] 338-0251
fruit, vegetables
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red
Long-form name: Republic of Singapore
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im
(top) and white; near the hoist side of the
Type: republic within Commonwealth
(FY70-83), $590 million; Western (non-
red band, there is a vertical, white cres-
Capital: Singapore
US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
cent (closed portion is toward the hoist
Administrative divisions: none
commitments (1970-87), $882 million
side) partially enclosing five white five-
Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Ma-
Currency: Singapore dollar (plural-dol-
pointed stars arranged in a circle
laysia)
lars); 1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents
Constitution: 3 June 1959, amended 1965;
Exchange rates: Singapore dollars per
Economy
based on preindependence State of Singa-
US$1-1.8895 (January 1990), 1.9503
pore Constitution
(1989), 2.0124 (1988), 2.1060 (1987),
Overview: Singapore has an open entrepre-
Legal system: based on English common
2.1774 (1986), 2.2002 (1985)
neurial economy with strong service and
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ ju-
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
manufacturing sectors and excellent inter-
risdiction
national trading links derived from its en-
Communications
National holiday: National Day, 9 August
trepôt history. During the 1970s and early
(1965)
1980s, the economy expanded rapidly,
Executive branch: president, prime minis-
Railroads: 38 km of 1.000-meter gauge
achieving an average annual growth rate
ter, two deputy prime ministers, Cabinet
Highways: 2,597 km total (1984)
of 9%. Per capita GDP is among the high-
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament
Ports: Singapore
est in Asia. In 1985 the economy regis-
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Merchant marine: 407 ships (1,000 GRT
tered its first drop in 20 years and
Leaders: Chief of State-President WEE
or over) totaling 7,286,824 GRT/
achieved less than a 2% increase in 1986.
Kim Wee (since 3 September 1985);
11,921,610 DWT; includes 126 cargo, 52
Recovery was strong. Estimates for 1989
Head of Government-Prime Minister
container, 5 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 11 re-
suggest a 9.2% growth rate based on ris-
LEE Kuan Yew (since 5 June 1959); First
frigerated cargo, 13 vehicle carrier, I live-
ing demand for Singapore's products in
Deputy Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong
stock carrier, 103 petroleum, oils, and lu-
OECD countries, a strong Japanese yen,
(since 2 January 1985); Second Deputy
bricants (POL) tanker, 5 chemical tanker.
and improved competitiveness of domestic
Prime Minister ONG Teng Cheong (since
4 combination ore/oil, I specialized
manufactures.
2 January 1985)
tanker, 15 liquefied gas, 68 bulk, 3 combi-
GDP: $27.5 billion, per capita $10,300;
Political parties and leaders:
nation bulk; note-many Singapore flag
real growth rate 9.2% (1989 est.)
government-People's Action Party
ships are foreign owned
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5%
(PAP), Lee Kuan Yew; opposition-Work-
Civil air: 38 major transport aircraft (est.)
(1989 est.)
ers' Party (WP), J. B. Jeyaretnam; Singa-
Airports: 6 total, 6 usable; 6 with
Unemployment rate: 2% (1989 est.)
pore Democratic Party (SDP), Chiam See
permanent-surface runways; 2 with run-
Budget: revenues $6.6 billion; expenditures
Tong; National Solidarity Party (NSP),
ways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-
$5.9 billion, including capital expenditures
Soon Kia Seng; United People's Front
3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
of $2.2 billion (FY88)
(UPF), Harbans Singh; Barisan Sosialis
Telecommunications: good domestic facili-
Exports: $46 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);
(BS); Communist party illegal
ties; good international service; good radio
commodities-includes transshipments to
Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age
and television broadcast coverage;
20
Malaysia-petroleum products, rubber,
1,110,000 telephones; stations-13 AM. 4
electronics, manufactured goods; part-
Elections: President-last held 31 August
FM, 2 TV; submarine cables extend to.
ners-US 24%, Malaysia 14%, Japan 9%,
1989 (next to be held NA August 1993);
Malaysia (Sabah and peninsular Malay-
Thailand 6%, Hong Kong 5%, Australia
results-President Wee Kim Wee was
sia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satet-
3%, FRG 3%
reelected by Parliament without opposi-
lite earth stations-1 Indian Ocean
tion;
Imports: $53 billion (c.i.f., 1989 est.); com-
INTELSAT and I Pacific Ocean
modities-includes transshipments from
Parliament-last held 3 September 1988
INTELSAT
Malaysia-capital equipment, petroleum,
(next to be held NA September 1993);
chemicals, manufactured goods,
results-PAP 61.8%, WP 18.4%, SDP
Defense Forces
11.5%, NSP 3.7%, UPF 1.3%, others
foodstuffs; partners-Japan 22%, US 16%,
Malaysia 15%, EC 12%, Kuwait 1%
3.3%; seats-(81 total) PAP 80, SDP 1;
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Army
External debt: $5.2 billion (December
note-BS has I nonvoting seat
Reserve
1988)
Communists: 200-500; Barisan Sosialis
Military manpower: males 15-49, 834,720:
Industrial production: growth rate 9%
infiltrated by Communists
621,497 fit for military service
(1989 est.)
Member of: ADB, ANRPC, ASEAN,
Defense expenditures: 5% of GDP, or $1.4
CCC, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth,
billion (1989 est.)
280
background
notes
Singapore
United States Department of State
May 1990
Bureau of Public Affairs
Indians 7%, others 2%. Religions: Bud-
dhist, Taoist, Muslim, Hindu, Christian.
Natural resources: None.
South
China Sea
Languages: English, Mandarin and other
Agriculture (0.4% of real GDP):
Chinese dialects, Malay, Tamil. Education:
fruits. Products-poultry, orchids, vegetables,
Years compulsory-none. Attendance-
BRUNE'
94%. Literacy-87.1%. Health: Infant
Industry (17% of real GNP): Types-
ALAYSIA
mortality rate-7.4/1,000. Life expec-
petroleum products, electrical and electronic
SINGAPORE
tancy-71 yrs. male, 76 yrs. female. Work
products, shipbuilding and ship repair, food
force (1.3 million): Agriculture-1.1%.
and beverages, textiles and garments,
Industry and commerce-58.1%. Serv-
chemical products.
Indian
INDONESIA
ices-33%. Government-8.1%.
Trade (1988, excluding Indonesian
trade, which is not reported by Singaporean
Ocean
authorities): Exports-$39 billion: petro-
Government
leum products, electronics equipment,
electrical and nonelectrical machinery, tele-
Type: Parliamentary democracy.
communications apparatus, garments.
Constitution: 1965. Independence:
Major markets-US, Malaysia, Japan, Eu-
Official Name:
August 9, 1965.
ropean Community (EC). Imports-$44
Republic of Singapore
Branches: Executive-president
billion: crude oil, machinery, manufactured
(chief of state, 4-yr. term); prime minister
goods, foodstuffs. Major suppliers-US,
(head of government). Legislative-
EC, Malaysia, Japan.
unicameral 81-member parliament (maxi-
Official exchange rate (avg. 1988):
PROFILE
mum 5-yr. term). Judicial-High Court,
Singapore $2.01=US$1.
Court of Appeal, Court of Criminal Appeal.
Fiscal year: April 1-March 31.
Geography
Political parties: People's Action
Party (PAP), various opposition parties.
Area: 620 sq. km. (239 sq. mi.). Cities:
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory.
Membership in
Capital-Singapore (country is a city-
Central government budget (1986):
International Organizations
state). Terrain: Lowland. Climate:
$10 billion.
Tropical.
Defense (1988): 5% of gross domestic
UN and some of its specialized and related
product.
agencies, Commonwealth, Association of
National holiday: August 9.
South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Five
People
Flag: Two equal horizontal sections,
Power Defense Arrangement, Asian
Nationality: Noun and adjective-
red over white, with a white crescent and
Development Bank (ADB), Colombo Plan,
Singaporean(s). Population (1988): 2.6
five stars in the upper left corner.
INTELSAT, Nonaligned Movement, Group
of 77.
million. Annual growth rate: 1.3%.
Ethnic groups: Chinese 76%, Malays 15%,
Economy
GDP (1988): $23.9 billion. Annual growth
rate (1988-in real terms): 11%. Per capita
income: $8,782. Avg. inflation rate (1988):
1.5%.
Singapore and the United States.
Many Singaporeans visit and study in
The East-West Center and private
Administrative Counselor-Robert B.
American organizations, such as the
the United States.
Courtney
Asia and Ford Foundations, also
The US Government sponsors
Defense Attache-Capt. Patrick
visitors from Singapore each year
sponsor exchanges involving Sin-
Cooper, USN
gaporeans.
under the International Visitor Pro-
Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew has
The US Embassy in Singapore is
gram. The US Government provides
visited the United States several
located at 30 Hill Street, Singapore
Fulbright awards to enable selected
times. He last official visit was in April
0617 (tel. 338-0251).
American professors to teach or
1988.
conduct research at the National
University of Singapore and the
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
My dontacts
Published by the United States Department
Principal U.S. Officials
of State Bureau of Public Affairs Office
It awards scholarships to outstanding
of Public Communication Washington, DC
Ambassador-Robert Orr
Singaporean students for graduate
May 1990
Editor: Juanita Adams
studies at American universities and to
Deputy Chief of Mission-Arthur
Kobler
Department of State Publication 8240
American students to study in Sin-
Economic/Political Counselor-Thomas
Background Notes Series
This material is
gapore. The US Government also
H. Martin
in the public domain and may be reprinted
sponsors occasional cultural presenta-
tions in Singapore.
Political Officer-Edward Dong
without permission; citation of this source
is appreciated.
Economic Officer-J. Anthony Holmes
Public Affairs Counselor-Richard
For sale by the Superintendent of Docu-
Gong
ments, US Government Printing Office,
Commercial Counselor-George
Washington, DC 20402.
Ruffner
us + Asla statistical Handbook, 1990
I
(Billions of US
SINGAPORE
1983
198
LAND
GDP
17.30
19.
Area: 239 square miles
Growth
8.2%
8.3
Cultivated: 9.5%
Forest: 4.6%
Pasture: 0%
CPI Rise
1.2%
2.6
Resources: none
Exports
21.832
24.0
POPULATION
to U.S.
2.969
4.1
1989 Estimate: 2,674,000
Annual Growth: 1.1%
Imports
28.158
28.6
Life Expectancy: 74
Literacy: 87%
from U.S.
3.759
3.6
Infant Mortality: 9
Fertility: 1.6
CurAccount
-0.610
-0.3
Ethnic Divisions: Chinese: 76.4%, Malay: 14.9%, Indian: 6.4%
Singapore is tl
Workforce: 1,280,000
Unemployment: 2.0%
MILITARY
Commerce and Services: 60.0%
Manufacturing: 28.5%
1989/90 Military Budget: US$ 1,5
Agriculture and Fishing: 0.4%
Construction: 5.0%
Increase over 1988/89: 13.6%
Government and Public Authorities: 5.5%
Students: Primary and Secondary: 464,250
Outlay as a share of GNP:4.8%
University: 46,900
As a share of Government Spend
POLITICAL
Total Regular Forces: 55,500
Official Name: REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE
Army: 45,000
Capital: Singapore
Navy: 4,500
Type of Government: One-Party Dominant Republic
Chief of State: President WEE Kim Wee
Combat Aircraft: 188
Head of Government: Prime Minister LEE Kwan Yew
Naval Vessels: 1 Corvette, 6 Fast
Foreign Minister: WONG Kan Seng
Minesweepers
1990 Freedom House Index (1 is highest, 7 is lowest)
Security Alliance with U.S.: none
Political Freedom: 4
Civil Liberties: 4
excercise together
1989 Voting with U.S. at U.N.: 14.61%
U.S. Military Installations: U.S.
agreement
FY 1989 U.S. Foreign Assistance (Actual Obligations)
U.S. Military Personnel: none
Economic: none
Military: US$ 50,000
Foreign Military Personnel: Aus
advisers; New Zealand: 20
ECONOMY
Armed Opposition Groups: non
Currency: Singapore Dollar, 1 US$ = 1.904 S$
Major Industries: petroleum refining, rubber processing, electronics, food processing,
INVESTMENT
ship repair, garments
1989 U.S. Direct Investment: US
Major Agricultural Products: hogs, poultry, orchids, vegetables
1989 Singaporean Direct Invest
Major Imports: capital equipment, manufactured goods, crude oil, transport equipment,
consumer goods
Major Exports:machinery, manufactured goods, transport equipment, refined petroleum,
rubber, electronics
Per Capita GNP: US$ 9,000 (1989)
72
SINGAPORE
Economic Statistics
(Billions of US$, percentages where appropriate)
E
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
GDP
17.30
19.13
18.33
19.26
20.72
22.31
24.0
Growth
8.2%
8.3%
-1.6%
1.7%
8.8%
11.0%
9.2%
Pasture: 0%
CPI Rise
1.2%
2.6%
0.5%
-1.4%
0.5%
1.5%
3.0%
Exports
21.832
24,070
22.812
22.501
28.696
39.318
44.769
to U.S.
2.969
4.121
4.412
4.884
6.395
8.223
9.178
Imports
28.158
28.667
26.237
25.513
!%
32.626
43.869
49.694
from U.S.
3.759
3.675
3.476
3.380
4.053
5.739
7.353
CurAccount
-0.610
-0.385
-0.004
0.542
0.539
1.660
2.1
dian: 6.4%
Singapore is the 11th largest U.S. trading partner
0%
MILITARY
Manufacturing: 28.5%
1989/90 Military Budget: US$ 1,500,000,000
Construction: 5.0%
Increase over 1988/89: 13.6%
Outlay as a share of GNP:4.8%
University: 46,900
As a share of Government Spending: 27%
Total Regular Forces: 55,500
Army: 45,000
Reserves: 212,000
Navy: 4,500
Airforce: 6,000
c
Combat Aircraft: 188
Naval Vessels: 1 Corvette, 6 Fast-Attack Craft (missile), 20 Inshore Patrol Craft, 2
ew
Minesweepers
Security Alliance with U.S.: none, although U.S. and Singaporean forces periodically
t)
excercise together
U.S. Military Installations: U.S. will station aircraft in Singapore under a recently signed
agreement
U.S. Military Personnel: none
ns)
Foreign Military Personnel: Australian: 50 Army, some RAAF, small number of
000
advisers; New Zealand: 20
Armed Opposition Groups: none
INVESTMENT
essing, electronics, food processing,
1989 U.S. Direct Investment: US$ 2,213,000,000
1989 Singaporean Direct Investment in the U.S.: US$ 1,216,000,000
is, vegetables
goods, crude oil, transport equipment,
ansport equipment, refined petroleum,
73
EXCHANGE TABLE
Exchange Rate: US $1.00 = S$ 1.678
SINGAPORE DOLLARS
US DOLLARS
1.00
.60
5.00
2.98
10.00
5.96
25.00
14.90
50.00
29.80
100.00
59.59
2
104°00'
103°45'
Peninsulal
r
Malaysia
Johor
Sungai Johor
Kampong
Tanjong Seindet
1°30'
1°30'
Masai
Baharu
Senoko
Causeway
Naval Base
Strait
Woodlands
Kampong
Sembawang
Kranji
Punggol
-
Bukit Mandai
Pulau
Village
Pulau
Kangkar
Pendas
Johore
Tekong
Ubin
Besar
Nee Soon
Bukit Panjang
Changi
Serangoon
Choa
Singapore Island
International
Kampong Baharu
Chu Kang
Airport
Yankie
0
Bukit
Timan
Village
Tox/Payoh
Jurong
Tuas
Queenstown
Pasir
Singapore
Panjang
Pulau
000
Village
Ayer Chawan
St 1 a
Keppel
Harbour
FORD Brank
1°15'
1°19'
Pulau
Sentosa
Bukum
Pulau
Semakeu
Pulau
Senang
strall
Singapore
Main
Sekupang
Railroad
Road
PO
Pulau Batam
Scale 1:345,000
Indonesia
0
5
10 Kilometers
0
5
10 Miles
Sagulung
Names and boundary representation
are not necessary authoritative
1204°00'
+
is located in Southeast Asia
tip of the Malay
and is separated from
by the Strait of Johore, which
insuranced by a 1.2-kilometer (3/4-mi.)
callevay carrying a road and a
vallway. rates the country from Indonesia.
The Singapore Strait sepa-
Singapore is a focal point for Southeast
Asian sea routes. Its total land area
Includes one large island and about 55
nearby islets. The diamond-shaped
main island is 41 kilometers (26 mi.) at
its broadest from east to west, and 22
kilometers (14 mi.) from north to south.
Much of Singapore is lowland and
originally consisted of swamp and
jungle. Now mainly urban and indus-
trialized, its geographical features are
small in scale-the highest point on the
main island, Bukit Timah (Hill of Tin),
is only 177 meters (581 ft.) above sea
level; the longest river is 14 kilometers
(9 mi.) long. A central plateau of about
31 square kilometers (12 sq. mi.)
contains a water catchment area and
nature preserve. The main urban area
lies on the southern part of the island,
primarily on land reclaimed from
swamp and sea.
Singapore's climate is character-
ized by warm temperatures, high
humidity, and copious rainfall. Virtu-
ally no seasonal temperature variation
exists. The average maximum tem-
perature is 31 °C (88 °F); the average
rainfall is 158 centimeters (62 in.).
Singapore has no pronounced wet or
dry seasons.
PEOPLE
Singapore's modern skyline.
With a population density of 4,231
persons per square kilometer (10,961
per sq. mi.), Singapore is one of the
English, and Tamil also are official
most densely populated countries in
languages. English is widely used in
technic. The practical engineering-
the world. The annual growth rate has
professions, businesses, and schools.
oriented Nanyang Technological
fallen, however, from 2.5% in 1965 to
The government mandated that
Institute, founded in 1981, now has
1.3% in 1988. Health standards are
English would be the primary language
3,940 students. The overall literacy
high for the region, with about 1
used at all levels of the school systems
rate is 87% and is more than 90% for
physician for every 837 people (US has
by 1987, and aims to provide at least 10
Singaporeans under 35.
about 1 to 700).
years of education for every child.
Singapore has religious freedom.
Singapore has a varied linguistic,
Primary and secondary school students
Almost all Malays are Muslim; other
cultural, and religious heritage. Malay
total almost 470,000, or nearly 18% of
Singaporeans are Hindus, Sikhs,
is the national language, but Chinese,
the entire population. Enrollment at
Taoists, Buddhists, Confucianists, and
the National University of Singapore is
Christians.
14,972 and 13,753 at Singapore Poly-
3
second largest in the world in terms of
parliament after any general election in
annual tonnage.
which less than three opposition
In 1921, the British constructed a
candidates are elected. Nonconstituent
naval base, which was soon supple-
members may debate but may not vote
mented by an air base. The Japanese
on constitutional amendments or on
captured the island in February 1942,
bills requiring the expenditure of
however, and it remained under their
funds. After the last general election
control until September 1945, when it
(September 1988), two members were
was recaptured by the British.
named, one of whom subsequently was
In 1946, Penang and Malacca were
disqualified. The maximum term of
united in a single British Crown Colony
any one parliament is 5 years. Voting
called the Federation of Malaya;
has been compulsory since 1959.
Singapore remained a separate colony.
Judicial power is vested in the
In 1959, Singapore became self-
High Court and Court of Appeal. The
governing, and, in 1963, it joined the
High Court exercises original criminal
now-independent Federation of
and civil jurisdiction in serious cases as
Malaya, Sabah, and Sarawak (the latter
well as appellate jurisdiction from
two former British Borneo territories)
subordinate courts. Its chief justice,
to form Malaysia.
senior judge, and six judges are
Indonesia adopted a policy of
appointed by the president. Appeals
"confrontation" against the new
from the High Court are heard by the
federation, charging that it was a
Court of Appeal. Further appeal can
"British colonial creation," and severed
be made in certain cases to the Judicial
trade with Malaysia. The move
A blacksmith for 45 years.
Committee of the Privy Council at
particularly affected Singapore, since
London.
Indonesia had been the island's second
HISTORY
largest trading partner. The political
dispute was resolved in 1966, and
Principal Government Officials
Although Singapore's history dates
Indonesia resumed trade with Sin-
President-WEE Kim Wee
from the 11th century, little was known
gapore.
Prime Minister-LEE Kuan Yew
about the island until the 19th century,
After a period of friction between
First Deputy Prime Minister-GOH
when in 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford
Singapore and the central government
Chok Tong
Raffles arrived as an agent of the
in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore separated
Second Deputy Prime Minister-ONG
British East India Company. In 1824,
from Malaysia on August 9, 1965, and
Teng Cheong
the British purchased Singapore
became an independent republic.
Ministers
Island, and by 1825, the city of Sin-
Communications and Information-
gapore had become a major port, with
GOVERNMENT
YEO Ning Hong
trade exceeding that of Malaya's
Community Development-WONG
Malacca and Penang combined. In
According to the constitution, as
Kan Seng
1830, Singapore, Penang, and Malacca
amended in 1965, Singapore is a
Defense-GOH Chok Tong
were combined as the Straits Settle-
republic with a parliamentary system
Education-Tony TAN
ments to form an outlying residency of
of government. The president, the
Environment-Ahmad MATTAR
the British East India Company; in
ceremonial chief of state, is elected
Finance-Richard HU Tsu Tau
1867, the Straits Settlements were
every 4 years by parliament. Political
Foreign Affairs-WONG Kan Seng
made a British Crown Colony, an
authority rests with the prime minister
Health (Acting)-YEO Cheow Tong
arrangement that continued until 1946.
and the cabinet. The prime minister is
Home Affairs-S. JAYAKUMAR
The opening of the Suez Canal in
the leader of the political party or
Labor-LEEYock San
1869 and the advent of steamships
coalition of parties having the majority
Law-S. JAYAKUMAR
launched an era of prosperity for
of seats in parliament.
National Development-S. DHANA-
Singapore as transit trade expanded
The unicameral parliament
BALAN
throughout Southeast Asia. In the
consists of 81 members (80 of whom are
Trade and Industry-LEE Hsien
20th century, the automobile industry's
from the governing People's Action
Loong
demand for rubber from Southeast
Party-PAP) elected on the basis of
Ambassador to the United Nations—
Asia and the packaging industry's need
universal adult suffrage. Up to 3
for tin helped make Singapore one of
CHAN Heng Chee
opposition candidates are invited to
Ambassador to the United States—
the world's major ports. It is now
become nonconstituent members of
Tommy KoH Thong Bee
4
embassy
the economy steadily recovered and
related industries worldwide, a
R
registered an impressive 11% GDP
shakeout in the US electronics market,
Street NW,, Washington, D.C. 20009
growth rate in 1988. The 1988 per
and worsening economic conditions in
(Lat. 202-667-7555).
capita income; $8,782, is the third
Malaysia and Indonesia. The net result
highest in Asia after Japan and Brunei.
was Singapore's first recession after 21
At the end of 1988, official foreign
years of sustained growth. Real GDP
POLITICAL CONDITIONS
exchange reserves stood at $16.6
billion.
growth plummeted to -1.6% in 1985,
The ruling political party in Singapore
began to show the first signs of
Singapore began as an entrepot
(in power since 1959) is the People's
recovery in mid-1986, and has been
(warehousing and transshipment)
Action Party (PAP), headed by Prime
remarkably buoyant since.
center for the region but began to
Minister Lee Kuan Yew. In the 1963
industrialize and modernize its infra-
Singapore continues to upgrade
general elections, the PAP won 37 of
worker skills and to search for new
the 51 seats in parliament. In October
structure after independence. The
products and markets to drive its
1966, the opposition Barisan Sosialis
marine and oil services and processing
industries were among the leaders in
export-led economy. One major effort
Party (Socialist Front), a left-wing
is to become a complete business
group that split off from the PAP in
the important manufacturing sector.
center, offering multinationals a
1961, resigned from parliament, leaving
The late 1970s and early 1980s brought
the PAP as the sole representative
an increasing emphasis on high tech-
manufacturing base, a developed
financial infrastructure, and excellent
party. In the April 1968 general
nology high-value-added goods and
elections, the PAP won all 58 seats-51
services, which made Singapore an
communications to service regional and
world markets.
without opposition.
electronics and regional banking
In the general elections of 1972,
center. Government policy, aimed at
1976, and 1980, the PAP won all of the
providing modern housing for most of
Trade
seats in an expanding parliament. In
the population by 1990, spurred public
In the past, about two-thirds of Sin-
an October 1981 by-election, the PAP
and private building, creating a
construction and property boom in the
gapore's imports and exports consisted
lost a seat to the Workers' Party
early 1980s.
of entrepot trade. With rapid industri-
Secretary General J.B. Jeyaretnam,
the first time an oppositon party had
However, by 1984, the govern-
alization, however, the relative impor-
tance of this sector has declined. The
won a seat since 1963.
ment's accelerated construction
trade pattern reflects a shift toward
In the 1984 elections, the PAP
program was nearly concluded, and
importing capital goods and raw
polled 62.9% of the popular vote, a 12%
there was a massive oversupply of new
buildings. Property values tumbled.
materials for industry and exporting
drop from 1980 returns, and lost a
second seat. In 1988, the PAP polled
At the same time, there was a near-
locally manufactured products.
In 1988, the United States was
61.9% of the popular vote to win 80 of
collapse of marine and petroleum-
Singapore's largest trading partner.
81 seats.
Following the 1988 elections,
Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew indi-
cated that in 1990 he would retire as
head of government but not from
RAHMATH TRADING LORPORATION
politics. First Deputy Prime Minister
DEALERS
Goh Chok Tong has been designated to
assume the office of prime minister as
part of a transition process to a new
generation of political leaders.
ECONOMY
Singapore's strategic location and
industrious population have given the
country an economic importance in
Southeast Asia out of proportion to its
small size. Following independence, its
economy expanded rapidly. Average
annual growth in gross domestic
product (GDP) during the 1970s was
close to 10%, and for 1980-84 it was
8.5%. Following a recession in 1985-86,
5
Major exports to the United States
with Singapore but provides no other
consisted of crude rubber, electronic
tion policy. The Development Bank of
bilateral aid.
equipment, electrical machinery, and
Singapore was responsible for indus-
textile products; major imports from
trial financing. The Jurong Town
the United States were machinery and
Industry
Corporation was charged with develop-
other manufactured products.
ing industrial estates. Its major
The government's development policy
achievement, the Jurong Industrial
from independence has emphasized
Estate, is a government-planned
US Investment and Assistance
industrialization. Separation from
satellite community devoted to manu-
Malaysia removed any semblance of a
The United States is the largest source
facturing, which had more than 1,400
large domestic market, leading
of foreign investment in Singapore,
factories in production in the early
naturally to emphasis on manufactur-
with more than one-third of all private
1980s and many others in various
ing for export. To support this policy,
foreign investment and a quarter of
stages of completion. The govern-
the government introduced new and
total investment. US private invest-
ment's Economic Development Board
remarkably successful financial incen-
ment played a leading role in Sin-
has organized a massive program to
tives for export-oriented industry and
gapore's rapid economic expansion,
promote foreign investment in Sin-
provided efficient infrastructure for
particularly in general manufacturing,
gapore and has set up a network of
manufacturing. Singapore opened its
electronics, and in modernizing re-
offices in Europe, Japan, and the
economy and has pursued a vigorous
gional distribution facilities. US
United States (in New York, Los
free-trade policy ever since. Labor
activities also include oil refining,
Angeles, Boston, Chicago, and
legislation enacted in 1968 reduced
shipping, banking, hotels, insurance,
Houston).
labor unrest and gave employers more
and importing and exporting. The
These efforts resulted in a dra-
flexibility in hiring and firing. By the
resident US business community,
early 1980s, Singapore had become a
matic increase in the level of foreign
including dependents, was estimated at
and local investment. From 1962 to
relatively high wage locale by Asian
about 5,000 in late 1988. Total US
standards, but the government moved
1974, the manufacturing sector grew an
investment in Singapore at the end of
in 1985 to restrain wage increases and
average of 20% per year and registered
1988 stood at $3 billion, with invest-
an annual average increase of more
reduce other costs with a view to
ment flows continuing at a brisk pace.
making Singapore more competitive.
than 10% through 1981. After a pause
The United States has a small
in 1982, growth resumed in 1983.
military training assistance program
Several institutions played a key
role in carrying out the industrializa-
Manufacturing increased as a percent-
age of total economic activity from 17%
in 1960 to 29% in 1988. Extensive
petroleum refining operations make
that industry-in terms of total value
of production-the largest in Sin-
gapore. It is closely followed by
electronics, transportation equipment
and marine services-including ship
repair-textiles, electrical machinery,
and food industries. The manufactur-
ing sector contracted because of the
recession, but the prospects for high-
tech manufacturing are still bright.
Construction was the cutting edge
of the economy in the early 1980s,
providing as much as 30% of total
growth. Although the frenzied pace of
construction in that period left a
massive surplus of offices, hotels, and
warehouses, the program also resulted
in modern housing for most Singapore-
ans and an up-to-date system of ports,
airports, and roads. Construction of a
66.8-kilometer (41.5-mi.) rapid transit
DO
system is underway. The first stage
was completed in December 1987.
6
Agriculture
Further Information
Singapore's limited agrarian land is
to intensive cultiva-
tion of vegetables, some poultry and
pork, and other food crops. Although
These titles are provided as a general indication of material published on this country.
The Department of State does not endorse unofficial publications.
rice is a dietary staple, it is not grown
domestically. All the island's other
Bedlington, Stanley S. Malaysia and
and Future. Singapore: Eastern Uni-
food requirements are imported.
Singapore: The Building of New
versities Press, 1979.
Singapore is a major exporter of
States. Ithaca: Cornell University
Lim, Chong Yah. Policy Options for the
orchids and tropical fish.
Press, 1978.
Singapore Economy. Singapore:
Bloodworth, Dennis. The Tiger and the
McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1988
Trojan Horse. Singapore: Times
Nair, C. Devan, ed. Socialism That
Labor
Books International, 1986.
Works. The Singapore Way.
Chan Heng Chee. The Dynamics of One
Singapore: Federal Publications,
Singapore has a work force of about 1.3
Party Dominance: The PAP at the
1976.
million. The National Trades Union
Grass Roots. Singapore: Singapore
Singapore Year Book. Singapore:
Congress, the sole trade union federa-
University Press, 1976.
Government Publications Bureau.
tion, has 209,000 members or about
George, T.J.S. Lee Kuan Yew's Sin-
gapore. Great Britain: Andre Deutsh
Available from the Superintendent of
98% of total organized labor. Exten-
Limited, 1978.
Documents, US Government Printing
sive legislation covers general labor
Goh Keng Swee. The Practice of
Office, Washington, DC 20402:
and trade union matters. The Indus-
Economic Growth. Singapore:
American University. Area Handbook for
rial Arbitration Court handles labor-
Federal Publications, 1977.
Singapore. 1977.
nanagement disputes. In recent years,
Hassan, Riaz, ed. Singapore: Society in
US Department of Commerce. Foreign
ew incidents have occurred to ruffle
Transition. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford
Economic Trends-Singapore.
he generally harmonious state of
University Press, 1976.
International Marketing Information
ibor-management relations.
Josey, Alex. Singapore: Its Past, Present
Series: Semiannual.
Singapore enjoyed virtually full
mployment in the early 1980s with an
nemployment rate of only 3%. The
985 recession drove the jobless figure
government-owned and operated.
3,500 navy, and 6,000 air force person-
more than 6% in mid-1986, but with
Privately owned daily newspapers are
nel. Reserve forces total about
e recovery, it dropped back to 3.3%
published in English, Chinese, and
200,000. Singapore is a member of the
mid-1988. Spot labor shortages
Malay.
Five Power Defense Arrangement—
ersist, however, in some growth
United Kingdom, Australia, New
reas, such as electronics and in
Zealand, and Malaysia. Designed to
FOREIGN RELATIONS
dustries, such as construction, where
replace the former defense role of the
reign workers predominate.
British in the Singapore-Malaysia area,
Singapore is nonaligned and seeks
the arrangement obligates members to
cordial relations with all nations. As a
consult in the event of external threat
ansportation and Communications
small country heavily dependent on
and provides for stationing Common-
world trade, it has a special interest in
tuated at the crossroads of interna-
wealth forces in Singapore.
maintaining wide international con-
nal shipping and air routes, Sin-
tacts. It is a member of the Common-
pore is a center for transportation
wealth and also the United Nations and
d communication in Southeast Asia.
US-SINGAPORE RELATIONS
several of its specialized and related
e world's second most active port
agencies. Singapore supports the
The United States has maintained
ter Rotterdam), Singapore handled
concept of Southeast Asian regionalism
formal diplomatic relations with
; million tons of cargo in 1988.
and plays an active role in the Associa-
Singapore since that country became
gapore is a regional aviation hub
tion of South East Asian Nations,
ved by 50 international airlines.
independent in 1965. Singapore's
P
founded in 1967.
angi International Airport, opened
efforts to maintain economic growth
and political stability and its support
980, is being expanded. The
for regional cooperation harmonize
ntry also is linked by road and rail
DEFENSE
with US policy in the region and form a
Malaysia and Thailand.
solid basis for amicable relations
Telecommunications and telephone
Singapore relies primarily on its own
between the two countries. The
lities are modern and comprehen-
defense forces, which are continuously
providing high-quality communi-
being modernized. The Singapore
growth of US investment in Singapore
ons with the rest of the world.
and the large number of Americans
armed forces comprises 50,000 army,
io and television stations are
living there enhance opportunities for
contact between Singapore and the
7