What you will learn How the British system of government worked in Singapore What the British did in...

What you will learnWhat you will learn

• How the British system of government worked in Singapore

• What the British did in law and order and social services

• How the British treated the Asians

The British System of Government in The British System of Government in SingaporeSingapore

• 18241824 : British possessed Singapore, Melaka and Penang

• 18261826 : the British combined them as one unit and called them the Straits Settlements. Why?

• The British government in India ruled the Straits Settlements. By 1858, India had become a possession of Britain. The British in India ruled the British territories in SE Asia

The British System of Government in The British System of Government in SingaporeSingapore• 18671867 : Control of the

Straits Settlements transferred

• From the government in India to the Colonial Colonial OfficeOffice in London

• The Straits Settlements became known as a Crown Crown ColonyColony.

Queen Victoria (1837 to 1901)

By becoming a Crown Colony, Singapore had become more than just a trading settlement as it now belonged to the Queen of England

Singapore as a Crown ColonySingapore as a Crown Colony

• Under the Colonial Office, a British official called the Governor Governor was put in charge of the Straits Settlements

• He was the most important person in the settlements• He represented the King or Queen of Britain• He made the final decisions in the government of the

settlements• He ruled with the help of two groups of people :

– The Legislative Council Helped the Governor to make laws

– The Executive Council Helped the Governor to carry out the laws

• The first Governor was Sir Harry St George Ord

Source : http://www.ura.gov.sg/pr/graphics/pr97-72a.gif

HISTORY OF ORD BRIDGE AND READ BRIDGE

The origins of both Ord Bridge and Read Bridge date back to the 1880s.

Ord Bridge • Ord Bridge was originally constructed in 1886. It was

named after Colonel Sir Harry St. George Ord, the first governor of the Straits Settlements. The bridge was once called Toddy Bridge because of the many toddy shops near it.

Read Bridge• Read Bridge also known as Green Bridge because of its

colour, was built in 1889 to replace an earlier bridge called Merchant Bridge erected in the early 1880s. The bridge was named after William Henry Macleod Read who came to Singapore in 1841. He was a prominent businessman who had rendered many public services to Singapore. Source : http://www.ura.gov.sg/pr/text/pr97-72.html

How the British Ruled SingaporeHow the British Ruled SingaporeIN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILIN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Do you think the British listened to the people’s views?Do you think they provided the locals with a good system of law and order?What about social services?

• Singapore’s population was mainly Asian• But British govt ruled with little Asian participation• 2 reasons

1. Locals were not interested• More interested in making their own living• Quite contented to leave the ruling of the island to the British

2. Europeans and Asian traders (also known as merchants) were the only ones interested in government

• Some Asian traders nominated to become non-official non-official membersmembers in the Legislative Council

• An important step in getting Asians involved in the affairs of the settlement

• Asian non-official members were more familiar with the situation in Singapore

• Helped to passed laws that benefited the people


• Examples of Asian non-official members

DR LIM BOON KENGDR LIM BOON KENG• 1914-1918 : Rents of

houses very high, poor could not afford

• Dr Lim asked the LC to pass a law to control house rents

• The LC passed a law that stopped landlords from raising house rents


• Examples of Asian non-official members

EUNOS ABDULLAHEUNOS ABDULLAH• Asked govt to improve living

conditions of Malays• Govt set aside a very large

piece of land for a Malay Settlement called Kampung Melayu

• Important because the land provided low-cost housing and allowed Malays to earn a living by growing fruits and vegetables and rearing poultry


• However, not all non-official members cared for the people

• At times, rich merchants in the LC looked after their own interest

ExampleExample• Dr Lim wanted opium to be

banned• This means that the govt would

lose a source of income from the tax on opium

• To make up for this loss, the Governor suggested taxing the people’s income


Source : http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/heroin/etc/history.html

• The main group affected would be the merchants

• Thus, European and Asian merchants opposed this

• In the end, opium was not banned

• The govt’s income continued to come mainly from the tax on opium until 1943 when it was banned


Freshly lanced poppy pods oozing raw opium resin.

Source : http://www.ieo.org/opm_mass.html

• Up to 1924, official members in the LC outnumbered non-officials

• Merchants asked govt to increase the number – the British did it slowly

• Only in 1924 were the numbers equal• But the Governor still had the right to veto

the decisions made by the LC• This limited Asian influence• Moreover, locals were not allowed to

choose their own non-official members until the late 1940s


“The keeping of the law and order is the responsibility of the police, but for a long time in Singapore’s history, they could not do it.

There were riots, stealing during the riots and frequent and daring robberies committed by gangs of men in the 1840s and 1850s.”

Adapted from The British as Rulers by Edwin Lee

• Why was the police force unable to do its job?

• Why were there riots and robberies?

Policemen were very poorly paid• Few wanted to join the police force• The first police force in 1820 consisted of 11 people• Too small to control several thousand settlers• The early policemen had no uniform and had to go

barefooted when on duty

Where and what is this place?Where and what is this place?

Geylang Police Station c1905Geylang Police Station c1905

Most immigrants did not understand British laws

• Different from laws of their homeland and community• Note that the British system of government was very new

to them

Growth of Chinese secret societies• Members often took part in robberies, gang fights, riots and

other crimes.• Chinese community the biggest – caused serious problems• Lawlessness not good for trade and business• Traders complained

CHINESE RIOTSCHINESE RIOTS

“None of the shops dared re-open, and when any of the streets was left unguarded the men on both sides would rush out and commence the fight again.

Finally, finding that they could only fight at short intervals and in small numbers in the town, the two clans marched out in large bodies into the country, where many pitched battles took place, and large numbers were killed on both sides, the heads of the dead being cut off and carried on the spears of their adversaries.”

One Hundred Years of Singapore, Volume One

Abuse of Chinese immigrants• Many immigrants were too poor to pay for their passage

from China• Turned to coolie agents who would pay for their trips• Often ill-treated by the coolie agents• Many turned to secret societies for help and protection• Unfortunately, they also suffered under secret societies

Chinese immigrants

The British did not care for the people in Singapore

• The government knew about the ill-treatment but did nothing

• Early 1870s,Chinese leaders asked British Government to protect the coolie immigrants

• All the government did was to check that they were not cruelly treated

• Main concern was to make profits• Immigrant groups left to look after themselves• New laws were not explained to the public

• By second half of 19th century, secret societies grew in numbers because more immigrants were arriving

• Led to more violence – disrupted trade• Many Asian and British merchants wrote to the Governor• Urged him to take strong action to improve the police force

ResultResult• The government then took steps to improve law and order• Policemen began to receive proper training and better pay• The government also employed more officials who spoke

Malay or some Chinese dialects

THOMAS DUNMAN• In 1843, Thomas Dunman was

appointed Superintendent of Police.• He was a capable and hardworking

man who could speak Malay• He was known and liked among all

classes of the community, both European and native

• They were willing to give him assistance and information

• He used to wander about the town at all hours of the day and night, so little went on that he did not know

• He was also trusted by the headmen of secret societies, who knew they could trust him not to divulge the source of any information which they gave him

• Dunman improved the image, welfare and morale of the police force

• He retired from the police force in 1871 and was succeeded by Colonel Samuel Dunlop

The Chinese Protectorate• Set up in 1877 to handle all matters

and problems related to the Chinese, esp the problems of coolie trade and the secret societies

• William Pickering – the First Protector of the Chinese

• The Chinese called him the “Great Man”

• He had served in China before and had learnt to read and write Chinese

• Fluent in Mandarin, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka and Foochow!

• All Chinese societies, agents and coolies had to be registered with the CP

• Hence, Pickering got to know many Chinese leaders

• Sought their help to keep law and order among the Chinese

• CP had some effect in controlling the coolie trade

Coolie Trade• The greedy coolie agents

kidnapped some of the coolies• They were locked in crowded

and dirty houses in Singapore until the agents found employers for them

• William Pickering had all the coolie agents to register with Protectorate

• Coolie houses and coolie ships were often inspected to ensure that they came here willingly and they were treated fairly

Domestic Servants• Young girls who came from poor

families were sold to be domestic servants

• Many of them were treated badly• The Chinese Protectorate often

visited these servants• Those who were very badly treated

were sent to the Home for Girls• CP also rescued young girls who

had been tricked into coming to Singapore and sold to brothels

The Chinese Protectorate Building• Constructed in 1886• Formerly at

Havelock Road• Pulled down in 1930

Chinese Protectorate, Singapore. Postmarked April 1908. Printed in Germany

Source : http://www.scholars.nus.edu.sg/post/singapore/arts/postcards/buildings/9.html

The Chinese Protectorate Building, c.1940s

Present view of the building

Source : http://www.heritagehub.com.sg/visit%20sites/national%20treasures/NT-MinLabourBuilding/NT-MinLabourBuilding-M.htm

Designed by H. Stallwood in 1928, the building stands on the site of the former Chinese Protectorate Building. The Ministry of Labour later occupied it till 1990.

The site was previously occupied by the Chinese Protectorate, which was the predecessor of the Ministry of Labour. The Chinese Protectorate was first housed in a shophouse in North Canal Road. It moved to Havelock Road in 1886 to larger premises. These were demolished in c.a. 1930 and the present building was erected. The Ministry of Labour occupied this building till 1990.

This monument was gazetted by the Preservation of Monuments Board on 27 February 1998.

• The relationship between CP and Chinese leaders help build up some trust between the ruled and ruler

• By 20thC, some gangsters dared to appear as witnesses against one another

• SS headmen also tried to keep their men from fighting and rioting to avoid attention from the government

• Although not eradicated, SS power had weakened

• Later, it was decided that SS would be banned and not just registered

• In the 20thC, govt took more steps to improve law and order

• The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was formed• Many detectives recruited• Modern methods of investigation adopted eg

fingerprinting to keep records of criminals

• As trade grew, govt began to take more interest in education. Why?

• Trade grew, more jobs available in govt office and trading companies

• Need for English-medium education grew• British also needed English-educated Asians to work

for the govt

• British did not treat all schools the same• More money given to English and Malay schools• Even then, money not enough for schools to employ

sufficient teachers

SOCIAL SERVICES SOCIAL SERVICES EDUCATIONEDUCATION

• Chinese-medium schools neglected• British believed these schools raised anti-British

feelings among the students• Supported English education to maintain loyalty

among the English-speaking Chinese• Also favoured those who were pro-British


School for Singapore Chinese Girls, 19thC

Source : http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/singapore/sg01_04b.jpg

• Higher education became possible only later• Asian merchants put pressure on govt to provide this• 1928 – Raffles CollegeRaffles College opened


• 19thC – large-scale smallpoxsmallpox and choleracholera in S’pore

• Threatened growth of trade

• British had to take steps to improve the situation

• Quarantine LawQuarantine Law – All passengers from ships had to be checked at St John’s Island by a doctor for smallpox or cholera

SOCIAL SERVICES SOCIAL SERVICES HEALTHHEALTH

Smallpox as a bioterrorist threat

http://www.hopkins-biodefense.org/pages/agents/agentsmallpox.html


Cholera is the illness caused by a bacterium called Vibria cholerae. It infects people's intestines, causing diarrhea, vomiting and leg cramps. The diarrhea and vomiting brought on by the infection quickly leaves the body without enough fluid. The following dehydration and

shock can kill a person within hours.

http://www.disasterrelief.org/Disasters/971112cholera/

http://www.disasterrelief.org/Disasters/971112cholera/


Source : http://www.seercom.com/bluto/smallpox/introduction.html

Smallpox was a highly contagious human disease caused by the virus variola. Since smallpox is a virus, there is no treatment. In the 20th century, the virus was eliminated from the human population, the result of a successful World Eradication Program. Photograph - variola particles, enlarged 2000X


Source : http://www.seercom.com/bluto/smallpox/pathology.html

Smallpox victim - smallpox is primarily a disease of the young.

Symptoms can be overwhelming. This patient died days after this photo.

http://www.seercom.com/bluto/smallpox/pathology.html

• Set up Public Health DepartmentPublic Health Department to improve the public health of the town

• Early 20thC – Asian leaders pressured govt to set up a medical school

• A need to train more doctors• Govt agreed on condition that people raised a large

sum of money to build the college


• Asian leaders quickly raised $87,000 – a huge sum at that time!

• 1905 – First medical school established to train doctors• 1920 – The school became King Edward College of King Edward College of

MedicineMedicine

• Besides training doctors, the govt also built more hospitals

• Also cleared dirty streets and drains to improve public health

• By early 1940s, govt was providing better medical care and services

• Spread of disease reduced



Source : http://www.dentistry.nus.edu.sg/faculty/history.htm

The Rulers and the RuledThe Rulers and the Ruled

• 19thC – the British considered the European and Chinese merchants as the most important group of people

• Mainly because they helped trade to grow

• But did not treat other Asians in the govt well

• The officials in control of govt depts were all Europeans

• Believed that Europeans were superior to Asians

• The British rewarded people according to their race, not their talents or contributions


• “DiscriminationDiscrimination” – How?• Equally qualified Asians were not given senior or more important

posts in govt depts• Asians earn lower salaries for the same work that Europeans did• Young European officials who had just come to Singapore for work

told not to mix freely with Asians• Showed that they looked down on Asians

• Discrimination outside the government• Railway – European given different sections from Asians• Meant to discourage contact between them• At public places such as hotels and shops, Europeans treated as

more important than Asians


• In one leading hotel in Singapore, Asians were not allowed to use the dance floor or the bar

• Reserved only for Europeans

• All these made Asians dislike the British for their unfair treatment• By 1942, the British still had not done enough for education nor

provided sufficient medical facilities• In govt, non-official members of the LC were still chosen by the

Governor and not elected by the people• Discrimination against Asians remained in and out of government

Straits SettlementsStraits Settlements

• Singapore, Melaka and Penang were known as the Straits Settlements because they were situated in Straits of Melaka.

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Images and photographs were reproduced in the interest and pursuit of education and not for profit. All copyrights belong to the respective owners :

• Understanding Our Past, 1999 CPDD-MOE, Singapore• Paul Thomas, British Monarchy, Oxford University Press 1989• One Hundred Years of Singapore, Volume One• Singapore Historical Postcards : From the National Archives

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