Some 30 members from the Wuxi Singapore Club had an informal networking session with H.E. Yip Wei Kiat, Singapore’s Consul-General to Shanghai, on 29 March, Saturday, at Wuxi Hubin Hotel.

In attendance with SingCham China Executive Director Koh Chin Yee, and SingCham Jiangsu Pro-Tem Committee Chairman Javis Lim and his team.

CG Yip Wei Kiat briefed the congregation on a few new Government initiatives and policies, including the establisment of the Overseas Singaporean Unit representative office in Beijing, and the new overseas voters policy.

Overseas voting was introduced for the first time in the 2006 General Election. Currently, to be eligible to vote overseas, the Singaporean must have resided in Singapore for an aggregate of two years during a five year period.

To allow more to qualify, the criteria has been relaxed such that a Singaporean, at least 21 years of age, must have resided in Singapore for at least 30 days during a three year period.

Other changes include - Extending the registration period so overseas voters have more time to register to vote and allowing online registration.

Members shared with CG their views on working and living in China, and in particular, family settling down and children’s education.

Chong Kian Fatt, President of the Wuxi Singapore Club, stressed the indispensable role that the Singapore clubs play in strengthening family cohesion and linkages back to Singapore.

SingCham Jiangsu Pro-Tem Committee Chairman Javis Lim shared his views on how SingCham could complement the Singapore clubs on provision of business services and advisory, especially so when SingCham has a professional secretariat and an official mandate to represent Singapore’s business interests in China.

CG Yip Wei Kiat strongly encouraged the close collaboration between the Singapore clubs and SingCham, citing that both should share resources, connections and expertise.

Both Wuxi Singapore Club and SingCham Jiangsu expressed the keen willingness to work together for the collective benefits of Singaporeans and Singapore-related businesses in Jiangsu.

é From Left: Mr Chong Kian Fatt, President of Wuxi Singapore Club, H.E. Yip Wei Kiat, Singapore’s Consul-General to Shanghai, Mr Javis Lim, SingCham Jiangsu Pro-Tem Committee Chairman