Introduction to the Hock Lee Bus Riots credits: http://www.thesmartlocal.com/read/5-riots-that-rocked-singapore
Since early 1955, *left-wing trade unions began to organise workers, and used militant methods to obtain increased wages and improved working conditions for employees. On 24 March 1955, about 100 Hock Lee drivers and conductors took the day off when their management refused to grant them leave to attend a SBWU meeting. The company viewed the incident as a case of mass resignation by the workers and hired workers from its own employees’ union to continue bus services. On 18 and 24 April, SBWU workers in the Hock Lee Amalgamated Bus Company staged lightning strikes to protest against certain actions taken by their management. In response, the management dismissed all 229 SBWU workers in the bus company.
Adapted from "Singapore: A Biography"
The workers participating in the strikes assembled at the gate of the Hock Lee Bus Company. The police wanted them to disperse but they refused. These were very high-pressure water cannons, strong enough to send pebbles and glass on the ground flying towards the workers. Some of the workers' bodies were cut and bleeding from the flying stones and glass. Whenever the water cannons lulled, the student sympathisers would rush to pick up pebbles and glass from the ground. They weren't trying to attack the police you only have to look at the actions of the people in the photographs and you'll see..... The water cannons were so powerful that they could blast a person into a drain. The crowd became very angry, and someone shouted in Hokkien 'hood!', which means fight.
credits: http://stripgenerator.com/strip/409364/history-chapter-8-hock-lee-bus-riots/view/fresh/
Adapted from Channel News Asia documentary series Days of Rage Episode 2: Hock Lee Bus Riots
Chinese schools were a natural nest for communist activities. It was so widespread that it was impossible for the special branch to try to investigate the Chinese school communist activities.
Adapted from Channel News Asia documentary series Days of Rage Episode 2: Hock Lee Bus Riots
All we felt was an aversion to the policies of the British government. When we joined the movements, we didn't even care if there are communist elements inside. The government thus suspected that we students were communists also, but were not.
Adapted from Channel News Asia documentary series Days of Rage Episode 2: Hock Lee Bus Riots
You won't support, of couse, unless you have some personal investment in it, so all these people, all these sentiments are real sentiments whereby the downtrodden remains downtrodden and they really want to see some change, so that's why they are willing to put themselves in the line of danger.
They were very daring and they didn't fear death. They laid on the road where the buses were supposed to exit. If you were to drive out, you'll run over these people. No one would dare to do that.
*Left-wing politics are political positions or activities that accept or support social equality, often in opposition to social hierarchy and social inequality.
Interview of Dr Loh Kah Seng, Institute for East Asian studies, Sogang University
Adapted from Channel News Asia documentary series Days of Rage Episode 2: Hock Lee Bus Riots
source 1
Interview of Dr Loh Kah Seng, Institute for East Asian studies, Sogang University
Adapted from Channel News Asia documentary series Days of Rage Episode 2: Hock Lee Bus Riots
People were angry, they were not having enough to eat and to make a living. At the same
time, the British and the employers were standing together and not doing enough to meet
workers' grievances.
 |
| Workers of the Hock Lee Amalgamated Bus Company going on a strike |
source 2
Interview of Mr Guok Seng Swee, Former Chairman, Hock Lee Bus Company (1952-1956)
Adapted from Channel News Asia documentary series Days of Rage Episode 2: Hock Lee Bus Riots
The workers' union were very demanding, but the management was very firm. My
company can only bring in so much money, and you are asking for more than what I bring
in, how do I run the company? When you got too many workers, it's very difficult to control
them. They keep asking for better terms.
 |
| Corporal Yuen Yau Pang with his face and clothes smeared with with burning petrol, a victim of the Hock Lee Bus Riots who died later |
source 3
Account of the Hock Lee Bus Riots by then 12 year old eyewitness Han Tan YuanAdapted from "Singapore: A Biography"
The workers participating in the strikes assembled at the gate of the Hock Lee Bus Company. The police wanted them to disperse but they refused. These were very high-pressure water cannons, strong enough to send pebbles and glass on the ground flying towards the workers. Some of the workers' bodies were cut and bleeding from the flying stones and glass. Whenever the water cannons lulled, the student sympathisers would rush to pick up pebbles and glass from the ground. They weren't trying to attack the police you only have to look at the actions of the people in the photographs and you'll see..... The water cannons were so powerful that they could blast a person into a drain. The crowd became very angry, and someone shouted in Hokkien 'hood!', which means fight.
 |
| Groups of Catholic High School and Chung Cheng High School students gathering to hold meetings and demonstrations |
source 4
Comic strip depicting the story of the Hock Lee Bus Riotscredits: http://stripgenerator.com/strip/409364/history-chapter-8-hock-lee-bus-riots/view/fresh/
source 5
Interview of Mr Yoong Siew Wah, Special Branch (1951-1968)Adapted from Channel News Asia documentary series Days of Rage Episode 2: Hock Lee Bus Riots
Chinese schools were a natural nest for communist activities. It was so widespread that it was impossible for the special branch to try to investigate the Chinese school communist activities.
 |
| Police spraying water cannons at protesting bus drivers in an attempt to drive them away from the gates of the Hock Lee Bus Depot at Alexandra Road |
source 6
Interview of Mr Wong Shiang Hoe, Student, The Chinese High School (1953-1960)Adapted from Channel News Asia documentary series Days of Rage Episode 2: Hock Lee Bus Riots
All we felt was an aversion to the policies of the British government. When we joined the movements, we didn't even care if there are communist elements inside. The government thus suspected that we students were communists also, but were not.
 |
| A Volunteer Special Constable, 29-year-old Corporal Andrew Teoh Bock Lan, was set upon by a mob at 8.50pm on 12 May 1955 while driving along Alexandra Road. He was beaten to death by the mob. |
source 7
Interview of Mr Otto Fong, son of Fong Swee SuanAdapted from Channel News Asia documentary series Days of Rage Episode 2: Hock Lee Bus Riots
You won't support, of couse, unless you have some personal investment in it, so all these people, all these sentiments are real sentiments whereby the downtrodden remains downtrodden and they really want to see some change, so that's why they are willing to put themselves in the line of danger.
 |
| Hock Lee Bus Company workers holding a demonstration |
source 8
Interview of Mr Han Tan Yuan, student, Catholic High School (1955)
Adapted from Channel News Asia documentary series Days of Rage Episode 2: Hock Lee Bus RiotsThey were very daring and they didn't fear death. They laid on the road where the buses were supposed to exit. If you were to drive out, you'll run over these people. No one would dare to do that.
 |
| Chinese students protesting against the police |
Aftermath of the hock lee bus riots credits: http://www.thesmartlocal.com/read/5-riots-that-rocked-singapore
By 3.00am on 13 May 1955, the rioting had subsided although island-wide strike of bus workers continued. The next day, a government arbitrator negotiated a settlement between the Hock Lee Bus Company and the SBWU in which the pre-strike rosters were restored. 4 people were killed and 31 injured. Normal bus services resumed on 16 May 1955.
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