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Three different takes

THE OLD-TIMER

AFTER Singapore and China set up diplomatic ties in 1990, the first wave of new immigrants came here directly from China or via the West.

Mainly from a middle-class background, they came to join relatives here or to experience life in a modern Asian country.

For those who stayed, they and their children are your typical Singaporeans: comfortable speaking English and a Singaporeanised Mandarin peppered with English words.

One example is housewife Wang Li, 52, who moved here with her engineer husband and daughter after five years in Britain.

Her husband was posted to Singapore by elevator maker Otis. Her 25-year-old daughter works for a shipping firm here.

In her own words: 'When I go back to Tianjin to visit my family, I find it hard to adjust. I'll be walking down the street with my sister and holding a used tissue in my hand because I can't find a bin and she'll say: 'Why don't you throw it on the ground?' I'll tell her that's not right.

'She finds it very hard to understand. It's so common in China for people to litter but I've imbibed Singapore's law-abiding ways.'

THE YOUNG ELITE

THE new immigrants who came in the 21st century are a more diverse group. They include students, professionals, entrepreneurs and blue-collar workers.

In recent years, Singapore schools and companies have been wooing the best and brightest from China's universities.

Former Sichuan University student Jasmine Hu, 25, won a scholarship to the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2002 to study computer science.

The Sichuan native is now a financial consultant with Singapore company IPP Financial Advisers. Her husband, a Chinese national, will relocate here in a few months.

In her own words: 'I think what causes misunderstanding between Singaporeans and new immigrants is the lack of contact.

'When I studied at NUS, I stayed in a hostel where there were a number of Chinese students. Most would leave after the first year because they lacked the requisite co-curricular activity (CCA) points.

'Why? I think they were conscious of being a minority and didn't mix around with the Singaporean hostelites.

'I decided to break this wall and interact with them. So I became the first chairman from China of the hostel choir.'

THE MID-CAREER BUSINESSMAN

SINGAPORE'S pro-business environment and quality of life are a draw for some entrepreneurs who have made it in China. Those with children like the well-rounded education system here.

The first two factors attracted Mr Yang Xue Dong (with other members of the Tian Fu Club), 48, vice-president of Chinese palm oil company Longwit. Outside of China, Longwit has offices in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The Tianjin native has been living here for a year. However, his wife and daughter have no plans to join him. His wife works in a hospital in China, while his daughter is doing a master's degree at Britain's Liverpool University.

In his own words: 'Singapore is a good base for strategic planning at a stage where my company is expanding regionally.

'Currency exchange is free and not controlled like in China and the taxes are relatively low, compared with most major cities.

'Who knows, I may stay on and buy property here. My wife and daughter are happy where they are. It's not difficult for us to stay in touch with modern communication systems. And I go home to China every other month and stay for about 10 days.'

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