Singapore has to manage inflow of foreigners and help them adapt: PM Lee

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says Singapore has to adapt to a changing world, but at a pace which Singaporeans can accept and get used to. 

Speaking at the FutureChina Global Forum this afternoon, he said it was "completely understandable" that Singaporeans may feel uncomfortable with the recent influx of mainland Chinese immigrants, who may look the same as Singaporean Chinese, but sound and behave differently. 

He says the government will continue to manage the social impact of immigration, and urged newcomers to play their part. 

"We have to encourage the non-Singaporeans who are living here to adapt to the circumstances in Singapore, and to understand that this is a different society, different values, different culture, multi-racial and religious, and to make those adaptations which the Singaporean Chinese have adapted and learned over several generations. And then of course we also have to manage the numbers and the flow and make sure that we're not overwhelmed." 

During the half hour dialogue, Mr Lee fielded a wide range of questions on Singapore-China relations, ranging from foreign policy to opportunities for Singapore companies in China.