Stupid newbie asking questions ;)

[zzm9980]

Abc, bbc, CBC == American, British, Canadian born Chinese

Now what happens if the person in question is Taiwanese? ABT?

One China!

Now if they're Taiwanese aboriginal? I won't touch that one..

[sundaymorningstaple]

I won't touch that one..

I would, if it was this one......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-mei

[Aiyah!]

So the JTC flats are/were in Toa Payoh and AMK? That's a pretty sweet location for the price. I was imagining Jurong West / Timbuktu.

JTC apartments were spread all over, from Woodlands to Tampines to Jurong West to Bukit Merah and all over .. not any specific area, except the Toa Payoh blocks which were upgrading blocks so two whole blocks were rented through Shift / EM Service.

Actually I wonder if this is what explains the shortage of blocks, rather than a full out axing of the SHIFT scheme? As upgrading winds down, means fewer blocks are available for this sort of thing.

I imagine if SHIFT was actually going to be ditched, the gov't would have said something publicly, since it would certainly fly well with the public and win a lot of support.

Unless they are hoping to push more JTC clients in the non-HDB properties? I'm not sure how well there non-HDB homes were doing, perhaps the HDB option was just cannibalizing their own business model?

[ecureilx]

I imagine if SHIFT was actually going to be ditched, the gov't would have said something publicly, since it would certainly fly well with the public and win a lot of support.

Maybe it's catch 22 - you can't publicly wind down a scheme, which few expats needed anyway, i.e. those earning lower pay, and would be negative publicity to the foreigners who come under sub-4000 pay range .. something that is needed anyway ..

Unless they are hoping to push more JTC clients in the non-HDB properties? I'm not sure how well there non-HDB homes were doing, perhaps the HDB option was just cannibalizing their own business model?

You can look at their Chip Bee Gardens

Oh, you didn't hear this from me, but, a friend used to yarn that most JTC rental were actually apartments which couldn't be sold or repossessed .. hence their being spread all over the place from Woodlands to Tampines to Jurong West and all over .. no clue on that thought ..

About units not being taken up for sale, I was listening to a guy who's next door unit had been unsold for more than 4 years, something to do with the unit number and layout .. talk about Feng Shui ...

[JR8]

You can look at their Chip Bee Gardens

We looked at it in 2008, it has a perpetual and long waiting list.

I understand the OP is trying to do thorough research (I would too, it's my style ), but on the other hand she has said she is not looking at trying to move for 2-3 years.

So I'd suggest that some of the micro things like areas to live, and way distant things like the issue of PR.... well I think the time maybe could be better spent... as so much will have completely changed by the time when and if she gets to SG.