NUMBER OF SOCIAL VISIT PASS HOLDERS FROM CHINA WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED
11 Mr Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the number and percentage of social visit pass holders from China who have been arrested has increased since the 30-day visa exemption arrangement became effective on 9 February 2024; and (b) whether the ability of all foreigners to enter via automated lanes at Changi Airport without presenting themselves before an immigration officer since May 2024 has increased the risk of persons who are not bona fide travellers entering Singapore.
The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Ms Sun Xueling) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Mr Leong Mun Wai's question may have been prompted by the recent burglaries which appear to be linked to foreign syndicates involving Chinese nationals. The Police had previously provided a comprehensive update on this issue. Three Chinese nationals have been arrested. Another 14 Chinese nationals are of interest to the Police, but they remain overseas.
To answer Mr Leong's question directly, there has been no increase in the number or percentage of short-term visitors from China arrested in Singapore since the mutual visa exemption arrangements were implemented in February this year. Even if we take into account the 14 Chinese nationals I referred to earlier, the percentage of Chinese visitors arrested in Singapore would be lower than the corresponding percentage last year.
A visa regime is not a foolproof way to keep unwanted characters away. It enables us to pre-screen individuals before they travel to Singapore. If they have antecedents of concern, their visa application will be rejected. The need to apply for a visa and to submit supporting documentation also acts as a deterrence. But no visa regime will completely weed out undesirable visitors and neither will it stop them from committing crimes here.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) adopts a risk-based, multi-layered approach to assess a foreign traveller when he is at our checkpoints. Over the years, the systems have been upgraded, the checks have become more robust and the overall level of security has been enhanced. It may surprise Mr Leong to know that the percentage of travellers who are refused entry into Singapore has, in fact, increased with ICA's new clearance concept and automated clearance. Why? Because checks are now further upstream and we leverage technology even more extensively.
Pre-arrival, ICA uses advanced passenger information, including flight manifests and information from the SG Arrival Card, to conduct data analytics and a risk assessment of travellers through its Integrated Targeting Centre.
Upon arrival, all travellers, including those at the automated lanes, are screened against a watchlist of persons of interest as well as those who have been flagged by ICA's Integrated Targeting Centre to be of higher risk. Such individuals are stopped for more stringent immigration and security checks.
ICA's automated lanes are supported by biometrics. Repeat travellers, including those who had committed crimes in Singapore, who try to enter via a different identity, will be flagged by our biometric database because we would have captured their biometrics on their previous visit.
Because we have automated more processes, more ICA officers can be deployed to conduct profiling of travellers at the automated immigration lanes, which complements the back-end risk assessment. Those spotted to be exhibiting suspicious behaviour will be sieved out for questioning.
Mr Leong's questions may have been prompted by fears of foreigners committing crimes in Singapore. The only way we can be sure that foreigners will not commit crimes here is to close our borders to them. But doing so would destroy Singapore's economy. Singapore and Singaporeans benefit from the tourism revenue and employment opportunities that foreigners, including those from China, bring. Just as an example, the tourism sector contributed $27.2 billion in tourism receipts in 2023 and employed more than 71,000 workers as of December 2023. The sector also contributed, on average, 3% of Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) over the last 10 years, from 2014 to 2023, excluding 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to being an important economic contributor, tourism plays an essential role in reinforcing Singapore's status as a vibrant global city that is a magnet for capital, businesses and talent. It also enhances the quality and diversity of leisure options for local residents and helps to create a living environment that Singaporeans can be proud to call home. There is no way to realise these ambitions if we erect walls and keep visitors out.
Our neighbours, Malaysia and Thailand, have also rolled out initiatives to boost tourism. For instance, to attract Chinese visitors, they have implemented visa exemption, increased flight frequencies and promoted cultural and entertainment experiences that appeal to Chinese travellers.
The mutual visa exemption with China was a carefully assessed and weighed decision, that the security, criminal and immigration risks were manageable, that the economic and bilateral benefits would be significant and that, overall, it is in Singapore's interests to have this arrangement with China.
Mr Speaker: Mr Leong Mun Wai.
Mr Leong Mun Wai (Non-Constituency Member): Sir, I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I have one supplementary question. But first of all, I would like to stress that neither I nor the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) have ever advocated for a closed Singapore. We understand the benefits of an open society and open economy. But as the number of foreigners or foreign visitors increase over time, I think we will need additional measures to protect the security of our country and our society.
As such, I have one supplementary question. Given that some of the Chinese nationals have come to Singapore and committed crimes, like scams, money laundering and, now, even burglaries, is the Government considering tougher penalties on these cross-border criminal activities? I think we need to, in addition to all the measures that the Minister of State had explained just now, also increase the deterrent on people coming to Singapore and committing crimes.
Ms Sun Xueling: I thank Mr Leong for his supplementary question. First and foremost, I thank him for confirming the PSP's stance to keep Singapore open to foreigners and to visitors, because that is critical to Singapore's economy and to continue to have Singapore be a vibrant place for residents and visitors alike.
On transnational crime, there are various aspects to it. There is human trafficking, drug trafficking; there are online scams. Burglary is not exactly a transnational crime, but I think when Mr Leong referred to it, he meant it in terms of foreigners who may come to Singapore to commit such crimes. Over the years, we have been revising our Criminal Procedure Code and Penal Code to enhance our measures to take into account all these offences. Mr Leong would also be familiar with the whole slew of measures that we have undertaken recently and also moving forward when it comes to online scams.
So, I take Mr Leong's point that with increasing number of visitors and not only that, with the increasing use of technology to commit transnational crimes, that we must always monitor and review our laws to make sure that they take into account the evolving nature of crimes.
