Aminet 6/Aminet 6 - June 1995.iso/Aminet/docs/misc/wfbook93_texi.lha/texi/214.data

Text File | 1995-03-27 | 9.4 KB | 359 lines

@node Geography (Singapore)
@section Geography (Singapore)

@display

Location:
  Southeast Asia, between Malaysia and Indonesia
Map references:
  Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  632.6 km2
 land area:
  622.6 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  193 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  12 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  two islands in dispute with Malaysia
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no pronounced rainy or dry seasons;
  thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days (67% of days in April)
Terrain:
  lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and
  nature preserve
Natural resources:
  fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
 arable land:
  4%
 permanent crops:
  7%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  5%
 other:
  84%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  mostly urban and industrialized
Note:
  focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes



@end display

@node People (Singapore)
@section People (Singapore)

@display

Population:
  2,826,331 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.19% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  17.12 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.25 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.75 years
 male:
  73.07 years
 female:
  78.63 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.89 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Singaporean(s)
 adjective:
  Singapore
Ethnic divisions:
  Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3%
Religions:
  Buddhist (Chinese), Atheist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu,
  Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist
Languages:
  Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil (official), English
  (official)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  88%
 male:
  93%
 female:
  84%
Labor force:
  1,485,800
 by occupation:
  financial, business, and other services 30.2%, manufacturing 28.4%, commerce
  22.0%, construction 9.0%, other 10.4% (1990)



@end display

@node Government (Singapore)
@section Government (Singapore)

@display

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Singapore
 conventional short form:
  Singapore
Digraph:
  SN
Type:
  republic within Commonwealth
Capital:   Singapore
Administrative divisions:
  none
Independence:
  9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)
Constitution:
  3 June 1959, amended 1965; based on preindependence State of Singapore
  Constitution
Legal system:
  based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 9 August (1965)
Political parties and leaders:
 government:
  People's Action Party (PAP), GOH Chok Tong, secretary general
 opposition:
  Workers' Party (WP), J. B. JEYARETNAM; Singapore Democratic Party (SDP),
  CHIAM See Tong; National Solidarity Party (NSP), leader NA; Barisan Sosialis
  (BS, Socialist Front), leader NA
Suffrage:
  20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 President:
  last held 31 August 1989 (next to be held NA August 1993); results -
  President WEE Kim Wee was reelected by Parliament without opposition
 Parliament:
  last held 31 August 1991 (next to be held 31 August 1996); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total) PAP 77, SDP 3, WP 1
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President WEE Kim Wee (since 3 September 1985)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990); Deputy Prime Minister
  LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990); Deputy Prime Minister ONG Teng
  Cheong (since 2 January 1985)
Member of:
  APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, COCOM (cooperating country), CP, ESCAP, G-77,
  GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UPU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador S. R. NATHAN



@end display

@node Government (Singapore 2. usage)
@section Government (Singapore 2. usage)

@display

 chancery:
  1824 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009  telephone:
  [phone]
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jon M. HUNTSMAN, Jr.
 embassy:
  30 Hill Street, Singapore 0617
 mailing address:
  FPO AP 96534
 telephone:
  [65] 338-0251
 FAX:
  [65] 338-4550
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of
  the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward
  the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged
  in a circle



@end display

@node Economy (Singapore)
@section Economy (Singapore)

@display

Overview:
  Singapore has an open entrepreneurial economy with strong service and
  manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading links derived from
  its entrepot history. The economy appears to have pulled off a soft landing
  from the 9% growth rate of the late 1980s, registering higher than expected
  growth in 1992 while stemming inflation. Economic activity slowed early in
  1992, primarily as a result of slackened demand in Singapore's export
  markets. But after bottoming out in the second quarter, the economy picked
  up in line with a gradual recovery in the United States. The year's best
  performers were the construction and financial services industries and
  manufacturers of computer-related components. Rising labor costs continue to
  be a threat to Singapore's competitiveness, but there are indications that
  productivity is catching up. Government surpluses and the rate of gross
  national savings remain high. In technology, per capita output, and labor
  discipline, Singapore is well on its way toward its goal of becoming a
  developed country.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $45.9 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  5.8% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $16,500 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.3% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  2.7% (June 1992)
Budget:
  revenues $10.4 billion; expenditures $9.4 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1993)
Exports:
  $61.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  computer equipment, rubber and rubber products, petroleum products,
  telecommunications equipment
 partners:
  US 21%, Malaysia 13%, Hong Kong 8%, Japan 7%, Thailand 6%
Imports:
  $66.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  aircraft, petroleum, chemicals, foodstuffs
 partners:
  Japan 21%, US 16%, Malaysia 14%, Taiwan 4%
External debt:
  $0 Singapore is a net creditor
Industrial production:
  growth rate 2.3% (1992); accounts for 28% of GDP
Electricity:
  4,860,000 kW capacity; 18,000 million kWh produced, 6,420 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  petroleum refining, electronics, oil drilling equipment, rubber processing
  and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot
  trade, financial services, biotechnology
Agriculture:
  occupies a position of minor importance in the economy; self-sufficient in
  poultry and eggs; must import much of other food; major crops - rubber,
  copra, fruit, vegetables



@end display

@node Economy (Singapore 2. usage)
@section Economy (Singapore 2. usage)

@display

Illicit drugs:
  transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe,
  and the Third World; also a major money-laundering center
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $590 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.0 billion
Currency:
  1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1 - 1.6531 (January 1993), 1.6290 (1992),
  1.7276 (1991), 1.8125 (1990), 1.9503 (1989), 2.0124 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March



@end display

@node Communications (Singapore)
@section Communications (Singapore)

@display

Railroads:
  38 km of 1.000-meter gauge
Highways:
  2,644 km total (1985)
Ports:
  Singapore
Merchant marine:
  492 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,763,511 GRT/15,816,384 DWT;
  includes 1 passenger-cargo, 125 cargo, 72 container, 7 roll-on/roll-off
  cargo, 4 refrigerated cargo, 18 vehicle carrier, 1 livestock carrier, 165
  oil tanker, 8 chemical tanker, 7 combination ore/oil, 2 specialized tanker,
  5 liquefied gas, 74 bulk, 3 combination bulk; note - many Singapore flag
  ships are foreign owned
Airports:
 total:
  10
 usable:
  10
 with permanent-surface runways:
  10
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  3
Telecommunications:
  good domestic facilities; good international service; good radio and
  television broadcast coverage; 1,110,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 13
  AM, 4 FM, 2 TV; submarine cables extend to Malaysia (Sabah and peninsular
  Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earth stations - 1
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT



@end display

@node Defense Forces (Singapore)
@section Defense Forces (Singapore)

@display

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 853,440; fit for military service 629,055 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, 4% of GDP (1990 est.)



@end display