Singapore

Singapore, an island city-state bordering the coast of southern Malaysia, is a global financial center with a tropical climate and multicultural population.

History

Early History

Singapore, also known as the "Lion City", was originally developed as a settlement by the late Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819. Overtime it grew under British rule, experiencing large amounts of immigration, that was until the takeover by the Imperial Japanese during World War 2. After achieving independence, it joined the Malay Federation, but was expelled two years later due to racial differences between the Malayasian-bigoted Malay government and the predominantly Chinese island.

When Hong Kong collapsed, many companies and people fled to Singapore, however, only well-educated and skilled people were given permission to live in the city. Anyone attemptimg to sneak in was quickly detected and detained.

At some point in the 2010s, the Arasaka Corporation's private security contractors were hired to police the city. Being policed by mercenaries has made any and all dissent of any kind virtually unallowed.^{[citation needed]}

Government

Singapore is a city run by a freely elected government, but run with an iron-fist. The government, the People's Action Party, has ruled with an overwhelming majority since the 1960s, and has made Singapore a model city, with a minimum of crime and pollution. The mass media, however, is tightly controlled, dissent is highly "discouraged" and individual freedoms are significantly suppressed. The government mandates dress codes and laws of cleanliness. One example of such is that chewing gum in public is illegal in order to keep the streets clean. The corporations within Singapore, unlike Night City, do not interfere with the development and activities of the government, due to the government already having corporate interests in mind.

Economy

Singapore's economy is the second wealthiest in the Pacific Rim, with only Japan being foremost. Trade, shipping, banking, and high-tech industries dominate this city. The Strait of Malacca is the prime shipping route between the Pacific Rim and Europe/Africa. When Hong Kong was brought down to destruction, most of the companies that weren't already in Singapore followed Merrill, Asukaga, & Finch's lead. The government had always maintained a pro-business stance for decades previously, and it is a city considered to have everything a Corpo would ever want. Tiger Medicines Corporation is the largest company originating from Singapore.

For the most part, citizens within Singapore are reasonably well off, and anything that's not illegal is quite easily acquired, so there's very little black market trade in Singapore. What little there is takes place on the north end of the island, where newcomers/refugees live.

That being said, NetCrime and data smuggling are the most lucrative markets. Singapore's government has found it nearly impossible to regulate all broadcast Vids, and have almost no control over the Net whatsoever. The sheer volume of activity makes policing it almost completely impossible. Every company maintains its own secure uplinks for teleconferencing, then there is personal travel between companies to attempt to maintain secrecy.

The Tiger Medicines Corporation, originally founded in the 1800s, is one of the most successful Singaporean corporations in the world and one of Biotechnica's rivals.