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Sunday, August 20, 2006

Hock Lee Bus Riots>

THE BEGINNING OF THE RIOT (STRIKE)
- April 23, 1955
- Workers (Hock Lee Amalgamated Bus Company) + Chinese students
- Members of Singapore Bus Workers Union (SBWU)
- Protested against poor working conditions, long work hours, low pay
- Stopped buses from leaving depot (crippled transport system)
- Supported by Chinese Middle School students (organized donation drives; brought food + money; entertained workers with songs + dances)
- 27 April, 1955 – 15 people injured by police’s attempt to break up strikers
- Gained more public sympathy and support for strikers

BLACK THURSDAY (May 15, 1955)
- major riot (Alexandra Road and Tiong Baru)
- 2000 students and strikers
- Police used water cannon and tear gas
- Policemen and buses were stoned
- 2 police officers, 1 student, 1 American press correspondent died
- 31 people injured (8 seriously)
- May 16, 1955 – violence was stopped
- Hock Lee Bus Company + SBWU signed ruling by Court of Inquiry
- Jobs and pay restored (victory was declared)
- David Marshall (Chief Minister of Singapore) took action
o Student leaders involved were expelled
o Schools where most students were involved closed down
- 16 May, 1955 – 2000 students forced way into school (being defiant)
- Food, clothing and money delivered daily ( by parents, friends and supporters)
- David Marshall gave in
o 2 schools were re-opened
o Expelled students returned to school

“Marshall blamed the pro-communists for the unrest, saying “The pattern of the action of the demonstrators conform to Communist techniques.” The British authorities were critical of Marshall not taking tougher actions towards the rioters and strikers. They would later reject Marshall’s proposal for independence in 1956, claiming that the local government was not able to manage internal security.” Quoted fromTHE BEGINNING OF THE RIOT (STRIKE)
- April 23, 1955
- Workers (Hock Lee Amalgamated Bus Company) + Chinese students
- Members of Singapore Bus Workers Union (SBWU)
- Protested against poor working conditions, long work hours, low pay
- Stopped buses from leaving depot (crippled transport system)
- Supported by Chinese Middle School students (organized donation drives; brought food + money; entertained workers with songs + dances)
- 27 April, 1955 – 15 people injured by police’s attempt to break up strikers
- Gained more public sympathy and support for strikers

BLACK THURSDAY (May 12, 1955)
- major riot (Alexandra Road and Tiong Baru)
- 2000 students and strikers
- Police used water cannon and tear gas
- Policemen and buses were stoned
- 2 police officers, 1 student, 1 American press correspondent died
- 31 people injured (8 seriously)
- May 13, 1955 – violence was stopped
- Hock Lee Bus Company + SBWU signed ruling by Court of Inquiry
- Jobs and pay restored (victory was declared)
- David Marshall (Chief Minister of Singapore) took action
o Student leaders involved were expelled
o Schools where most students were involved closed down
- 16 May, 1955 – 2000 students forced way into school (being defiant)
- Food, clothing and money delivered daily ( by parents, friends and supporters)
- David Marshall gave in
o 2 schools were re-opened
o Expelled students returned to school

“Marshall blamed the pro-communists for the unrest, saying “The pattern of the action of the demonstrators conform to Communist techniques.” The British authorities were critical of Marshall not taking tougher actions towards the rioters and strikers. They would later reject Marshall’s proposal for independence in 1956, claiming that the local government was not able to manage internal security.” Quoted from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hock_Lee_bus_riots
all the information also from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hock_Lee_bus_riots