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Why were they unhappy with the British government? 1
Chinese graduates had poor job prospects (Xin Yan)
Local people who were educated in English-stream school could get jobs in the civil service (Government jobs which were reasonably well paid and respectable)
But Chinese educated found it difficult to get jobs except to start businesses. Starting little shops or become hawkers were not easy.
Felt were treated unfairly by the British Government (Ting Xun)
Did not trust British to look after their interests
E.g. 1954 -- registration for National Service in 1954
British Government deployed the police against student protesters
Students were angry that the British treated them harshly.
Limited opportunity to pursue a university education in Singapore (Yi Xuan)
Had to go to China to further studies.
But British government banned people who visited China from returning to Singapore
Why? --> British wanted to stop spread of communist ideas.
Disrupted their higher education. This meant that Chinese educated students could not pursue university education in China unless they didn't want to return to Singapore (Unfair! Disrupted path to higher education and hence opportunities. : :
National service (Yi Xuan)3
Introduced by the British Colonial Government
Policy whereby males between the ages of 18 and 20 had to register for National Service
They were against the policy of having National Service
Many of the CMSS were old enough to qualify for National Service (older because JO had disrupted their education & they had returned to school after that although they were older students.)
Upset this policy would disrupt their education AGAIN ; did not want that to happen.
Feared that they would be sent into the Malayan jungles to fight in the Emergency (fight against the communist) ( this is due to a miscommunication between the British government and CMSS)
Not willing to defend the colonial government which they believed neglected their interests
How did they intend to do so? (Xin Yan)2
Protest :)
Riots
Why?
The Chinese community was also against
compulsory conscription due to the traditional belief that
good men did not become soldiers.
Who?
The Chinese students, including their parents, were
worried that students would be sent into the jungles to fight Malayan communist guerrillas who were a threat to
British rule.
Who were the supporters? (Ting Xun)4
Pro-communist trade unions and organisations outside, like the Bus Workers' Union and Singapore Farmer's Association
Bus Worker's Union started the Hock Lee Bus Riots
The strikers stopped the buses from leaving the depots and crippled the country's entire transport system. In a show of support, students from the Chinese middle schools came in busloads to joined the strikers. They organised donation drives, brought food and money, and even entertained the workers with songs and dances. Other workers also expressed support.