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1957: Singapore
Autonomy.
The
most important event in Singapore's history in 1957 was the successful negotiation of home-rule agreement with the British Crown. Although Britain retains responsibility for external affairs and defense (and a role in internal security), in 1958 Singapore will become an autonomous member of the Commonwealth.
The first conversations leading to Britain's relinquishment failed in mid-1956, and David Marshall, Chief Minister of Singapore, resigned. He was replaced by Lim Yew Hock, who received a confidence vote from the Legislative Assembly (25 to 4) and arrived in London on Dec. 10, 1956, to organize an agenda for renewed negotiations. He and Colonial Secretary Alan Lennox-Boyd agreed on the agenda and set the talks for Mar. 10, 1957. On March 5, in view of the fact that earlier efforts had failed when no agreement was reached on measures for internal security, Lim Yew Hock proposed as a compromise that any issue of internal security on which the Singapore government and British defense officials could not agree should be referred to a seven-man security council composed of three from Britain, three from Singapore, and one from the Federation of Malaya, with the latter representative as chairman. At the same time he suggested that the Governor-General be a Malayan. The conference in London opened on March 11 and announced agreement on April 9. The agreement almost foundered, however, when the Colonial Office added a last-minute reservation to the effect that persons known to have engaged in subversive activity be barred from election to Singapore's first legislative assembly. Lim Yew Hock believed that this clause, which affected about ten persons, would unnecessarily give such persons the status of martyrs. Apart from this reservation, the Constitution was greeted in Singapore with great satisfaction. Many of Lim Yew Hock's suggestions were incorporated, but a British representative was given the chair of the security council. Although a Malayan Federation representative would be Governor-General, it was agreed that a British representative of equal rank and with the right to take over the government in emergencies, or if Singapore violated its constitution, would also be appointed. The size of the Legislative Assembly was set at 51, safeguards were included for minority groups, citizenship requirements were established, and a procedure was set up to 'Malayanize' the judiciary and civil service. Although some opposition appeared in Singapore over the ban on known subversives, the draft was accepted on April 30 by the Singapore Legislative Assembly by a vote of 23 to 2. David Marshall and an independent voted against it, and Marshall resigned.
Domestic Problems.
Singapore faces two major domestic problems. The first concerns Communist subversion. As a result of riots in October 1956, a total of 1,619 people were arrested, 216 placed under detention, and 31 banished. In August 1957, another Communist plot was revealed and 35 were arrested, most of them from the Peoples Action Party, the local front, including the chairman, Tan Chong Kim, and four members of the executive committee. The government announced it intended to maintain its drive and on October 12 banished Dr. Chuang Chu-lin of the Cheng Cheng Middle School.
The other problem of Singapore is its economic future. Residents fear that Malaya will raise tariff barriers and develop its own ports. The danger of this when added to a declining trade ratio with Indonesia is obvious. However, Britain has announced its intent to maintain its main naval base at Singapore and it is hoped that in time the Malayan fear of the Chinese majority in Singapore can be allayed and Singapore can then become a member of the Federation.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Area and Population.
Area, 224.5 sq. mi. City of Singapore, 31.5 sq. mi. Pop. (1956 est.), 1,261,677: Chinese, 965,274; Malaysians, 153,962; Indians and Pakistanis, 98,258; Europeans, 19,416; Eurasians, 11,994; others, 12,773.
Government.
Crown Colony. Governor, Sir Robert Black; Chief Minister, Lim Yew Hock. Council of Ministers: 3 ex officio members and 6 ministers drawn from the legislature. Legislative Assembly: 3 ex officio members, 4 nominated non-officials, and 25 elected members.
Finance.
Unit of currency: Straits dollar, tied to sterling at 2s. 4d. Budget (1955): Revenue (75 per cent from taxation), $M208,833,000; expenditure $M197,912,000.
Trade.
Main exports: rubber, tin, petroleum products, pepper, textiles. Main imports: rubber, petroleum products, rice, spices, and a wide range of manufactured consumer and capital goods for local consumption and re-export.
Industries.
Processing of tin, rubber, pineapples and coconut oil, shipbuilding, sawmilling, steel-rolling, motor assembly, printing, and light industries mainly for the home market.
Education and Religion.
Schools (1955): government and private, 659; student enrollment, 211,804. University of Malaya (in Singapore), 1,220 students. Religions: Buddhist, Moslem, and Christian.
Armed Forces.
Singapore is headquarters of the United Kingdom Armed Forces in the Far East and a base for other Commonwealth forces. The total numbers involved not known.
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