中新免签后，在新加坡被捕的中国籍短期访客最新情况通报

　　2024年9月9日，新加坡内政部政务部长孙雪玲在国会答复非选区议员梁文辉有关被捕的中国籍短期访客人数等相关问题。

　　以下内容为新加坡眼根据国会英文资料翻译整理：

　　梁文辉（非选区议员）先生询问内政部长：

　　自2024年2月9日中新30天互免签证生效以来，被捕的中国籍短期访客人数和百分比是否有所增加？

　　自2024年5月以来，所有外国人都可以通过樟宜机场的自动通道入境而无需向移民官员出示身份，这是否增加了非真正旅客进入新加坡的风险？

　　孙雪玲(内政部政务部长，代表内政部长)：议长先生，梁文辉先生提出这个问题可能是由于最近发生的入室盗窃案，这些盗窃案似乎与涉及中国公民的外国犯罪集团有关。警方此前曾就此事提供过全面的最新资料：3名中国公民被捕，另外14名中国公民引起了警方的关注，但他们仍在海外。

　　直接回答梁先生的问题，自今年2月实施互免签证安排以来，在新加坡被捕的中国短期访客人数和百分比都没有增加。即使考虑到我之前提到的14名中国公民，在新加坡被捕的中国访客百分比也低于去年的相应百分比。

　　签证制度并不是把不受欢迎的人拒之门外的万全之策。它使我们能够在个人前往新加坡之前对他们进行预先审查。如果他们有令人担忧的犯罪前科，他们的签证申请将被拒绝。申请签证和提交证明文件的必要性也起到了威慑作用。但是，任何签证制度都不能完全杜绝不受欢迎的访客，也不能阻止他们在这里犯罪。

　　移民与关卡局 (ICA) 采用基于风险的多层次方法，来评估外国旅客在检查站的情况。多年来，系统不断升级，检查变得更加严格，整体安全水平也得到了提高。梁先生可能会惊讶地发现，随着 ICA 的新通关概念和自动通关的实施，被拒绝进入新加坡的旅客比例实际上有所增加。为什么呢？因为现在检查更深入到上游，而且我们更广泛地利用技术。

　　在旅客抵达前，ICA 利用先进的乘客信息，包括航班清单和新加坡入境卡上的信息，进行数据分析，并通过综合目标中心对旅客进行风险评估。

　　抵达后，所有旅客（包括走自动通道的旅客）都要对照一份关注人员名单以及被 ICA 综合目标中心标记为高风险的旅客进行筛查。这些人将被拦下，接受更严格的移民和安全检查。

　　ICA 的自动通道由生物识别技术提供支持。重复入境的旅客，包括那些曾在新加坡犯罪的旅客，如果试图通过不同的身份入境，我们的生物识别数据库将对他们进行标记，因为我们在他们上次访问时已经采集了他们的生物识别特征。

　　由于我们已经实现了更多流程的自动化，因此可以部署更多的 ICA 官员在自动出入境通道对旅客进行特征分析，这是对后端风险评估的补充。那些被发现有可疑行为的人将被筛选出来接受询问。

　　梁先生的问题可能是出于对外国人在新加坡犯罪的担忧。要确保外国人不会在新加坡犯罪，唯一的办法就是关闭边境。但这样做会破坏新加坡的经济。新加坡和新加坡人受益于外国人（包括来自中国的外国人）带来的旅游收入和就业机会。举例来说，截至2023年12月，旅游业为新加坡带来272亿新元的旅游收入，并雇佣了超过71,000名员工。在过去10年中，从2014年到 2023年（不包括因 COVID-19 大流行而造成的 2020 年到 2022 年）中，旅游业平均贡献了新加坡国内生产总值（GDP）的 3%。

　　除了是重要的经济贡献者，旅游业在巩固新加坡作为一个充满活力的全球城市的地位方面也发挥着至关重要的作用，它是吸引资本、企业和人才的磁石。旅游业还提高了当地居民休闲选择的质量和多样性，有助于创造一个新加坡人可以自豪地称之为家的生活环境。如果我们筑起高墙，将游客拒之门外，就无法实现这些雄心壮志。

　　我们的邻国马来西亚和泰国也推出了促进旅游业发展的举措。例如，为了吸引中国游客，他们实施了免签政策、增加了航班频率，并推广吸引中国游客的文化活动和娱乐体验。

　　与中国互免签证是经过仔细评估和权衡后作出的决定，安全、犯罪和移民风险是可控的，经济和双边利益将是巨大的，总体而言，与中国达成这一安排符合新加坡的利益。

　　议长：有请梁文辉先生。

　　梁文辉（非选区议员）：议长先生，谢谢政务部长的答复。我有一个补充问题。但首先，我想强调的是，我和新加坡前进党（PSP）从未倡导过一个封闭的新加坡。我们明白开放社会和开放经济的好处。但随着时间的推移，外国人或外国游客的数量不断增加，我认为我们需要采取更多的措施来保护我们国家和社会的安全。

　　因此，我有一个补充问题。鉴于一些中国公民来到新加坡犯下罪行，如诈骗、洗钱，现在甚至还有入室盗窃，政府是否考虑对这些跨境犯罪活动采取更严厉的惩罚措施？我认为，除了政务部长刚才解释的所有措施外，我们还需要增加对来新加坡犯罪的人的威慑力。

　　孙雪玲女士：感谢梁先生的补充问题。首先，谢谢他确认了新加坡前进党（PSP）的立场，即保持新加坡对外国人和游客的开放，因为这对新加坡的经济至关重要，对新加坡继续成为居民和游客都充满活力的地方。

　　关于跨国犯罪，它涉及多个方面。有贩卖人口、贩毒；有网络诈骗。入室盗窃并不完全是一种跨国犯罪，但我认为梁先生在提到这一点时，是指那些可能来新加坡犯下此类罪行的外国人。多年来，我们一直在修订我国的刑事程序法（Criminal Procedure Code）和刑事法典（Penal Code），以加强我们的措施，将所有这些罪行都考虑在内。梁先生也会熟悉我们最近采取的一系列措施，以及今后在网络诈骗方面取得的进展。

　　因此，我同意梁議員所說，由於訪客數目不斷增加，而且越來越多人利用科 技進行跨國罪行，我們必須經常監察和檢討我們的法例，以確保這些法例能顧 及罪行不斷演變的性質。

　　因此，我同意梁先生的观点，即随着游客人数的增加，而且越来越多人利用科技实施跨国犯罪，我们必须经常监督和审查我们的法律，以确保它们考虑到犯罪不断变化的性质。

　　以下是英文质询内容：

　　NUMBER OF SOCIAL VISIT PASS HOLDERS FROM CHINA WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED

　　11Mr Leong Mun Waiaskedthe 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 theProgressSingapore 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.

　　RL丨编辑

　　HQ丨编审

　　新加坡国会丨来源

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