ABSTRACT
On 10 July 1989, the Singapore government announced a modified immigration policy to offer permanent residence to 25,000 skilled and semi-skilled workers and their families from Hong Kong. These were to include technicians, craftsmen, white-collar workers and self-employed people. Prospective applicants needed to have a secondary education, to earn at least S$l,500 a month and to have five years of work experience; or to have at least five GCE ‘O’ levels; or to have an acceptable trade certificate. The successful applicants would have five years to take up residence and an option to extend for another five years, thus effectively giving them an opportunity to remain in post-1997 Hong Kong before deciding whether to move to Singapore. Previously, Singapore had opened its doors only to graduates, professionals and businessmen with capital of at least S$10,000. The Singapore government continues not to impose a quota on this occupational group, and suitably qualified Hong Kong people may immigrate under this category.
