History WA2 notes

• British rule in Singapore


  1819 to 1942
• Establishment of British rule in Singapore

  1. 1819

  2. 1824

  3. 1826

  4. 1858

  5. 1867
• The British established a trading settlement in Singapore in 1819
• The British acquired the whole of Singapore through the Anglo-Dutch Treaty in 1824
• The British combined their possessions of Singapore, Malacca and Penang into the Straits Settlements, which was ruled by the East India Company (EIC)
• The EIC was dissolved and the British government took direct control of the Straits Settlements, which became a Crown Colony in 1867
• British government in Singapore

  • Represented by the Governor of the Straits Settlements
  • Governor had veto power
  • Executive Council comprised of high-ranking British officials
  • Legislative Council comprised of high-ranking British officials and non-official members (mainly Asian and European traders)
• The number of non-official members in the Legislative Council was fewer than the number of officials, so the Asian merchants were often outvoted
• Hoo Ah Kay was the first Asian non-official member of the Legislative Council
• In 1924, the number of non-official members in the Legislative Council was made equal to the number of official members
• Asian members of the Legislative Council


  • Hoo Ah Kay
  • Dr Lim Boon Keng
  • Eunos Abdullah
• Proposals initiated by Asian members

  • Eunos Abdullah's proposal to set up a Malay settlement called Kampong Malay
  • Dr Lim Boon Keng's proposal to ban opium smoking
• The Legislative Council was not willing to ban opium smoking as it would mean a great loss of revenue for the government
• The Governor, Sir John Anderson, proposed an income tax law to make up for the loss of revenue from banning opium, but it was opposed by European and Asian merchants in the Legislative Council
• Problems faced by the British in maintaining law and order

  • Chinese secret societies
  • Abuse of immigrants
  • Piracy
• Chinese secret societies

  Started as organisations to help new immigrants, but later formed gangs and engaged in unlawful activities
• Abuse of immigrants

  Immigrants were too poor to pay for their passage from China to Singapore, so they turned to coolie-agents who often ill-treated and abused them
• Piracy was a danger to the lives, property and trade of the merchant community in Singapore
• Measures taken by the British to improve law and order


  1. Establishing a police force

  2. Setting up the Chinese Protectorate
• Police force before improvements


  Small force, unable to maintain law and order, few Chinese policemen, low pay, bribery common
• Police force after improvements

  Thomas Dunman as first police commissioner, increased pay, proper training, more capable officials who could speak Malay and Chinese, Detective Branch and CID set up, modern methods like fingerprinting introduced
• Chinese Protectorate

  Set up to deal with problems of the Chinese community, William Pickering as first Protector, registered Chinese secret societies, inspected coolie houses, set up Po Leung Kuk to rescue young girls
• Fightings and power of secret societies did not end completely, and abuses of coolies and women were often not reported
• British government's provision of social services


  • Education: English and Malay schools given more funding, Chinese schools neglected
  • Health: High death rate, common diseases, inadequate water supply and waste disposal, measures taken to improve public health
• Queen's Scholarship was established for top secondary school students to further their studies in British universities
• Dr Lim Boon Keng was a Queen's scholar
• The British government and Europeans believed they were superior to Asians, and Asians were discriminated against in government service, medical sector, and public places
• Executive Council


  Made up of high-ranking British officials, advised the Governor on matters of policy and administration, members were appointed by the Governor
• Governor of the Straits Settlements

  Head of the colonial government in Singapore, appointed by the British government, had veto power over the Legislative Council
• Veto


  Power to reject or refuse to approve a proposal, decision, or legislation, held by the Governor of the Straits Settlements in the context of the British government in Singapore
• Approve


  To give official permission or agreement to a proposal, decision, or legislation, in the context of the British government in Singapore, non-official members of the Legislative Council proposed new laws and policies but needed the approval of the Executive Council to become law
• Legislative Council

  Responsible for making laws and policies for Singapore, made up of high-ranking British officials and non-official members (mainly Asian and European traders), non-official members could propose new laws and policies but needed the approval of the Executive Council to become law
• Singapore's population increased from barely 150 in 1819 to about 6,000 in 1821
• Large numbers of settlers continued to come into Singapore thereafter
• A census taken in 1911 showed that there were 57 different languages spoken among the population
• With the influx of migrants and the growth of trade, there were also more robberies, murders and other crimes
• Maintaining law and order was a challenge
• Police Force

  Consisted of the chief police officer, one writer, one jailor in charge of the prison, one European sergeant and eight Asian policemen
• This was hardly enough to keep the peace in a population of a few thousand settlers
• Thomas Dunman


  Appointed as Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Superintendent of Police in 1843, and as Singapore's first full-time Commissioner of Police in 1857