How did British rule and

external developments affect

Singapore’s growth as a port
city from 1819 to 1942?
Chapter Overview

01 02
British rule External developments
How did the British develop What impact did external
Singapore into a port city? developments have on
Singapore’s growth as a
port city?
 01
British rule
 Free Port Status
Free Port Status
• Introduced by the British in 1819. Administrative
Changes
• Free port – traders did not need to pay taxes.
• In the 19th century, most of Singapore’s trade
involved transshipment and entrepôt trade. Why? Law and Order
• Singapore was easily accessible, tax-free, and
centrally-located for both Western and Asian goods Education
to be traded.
• Transshipment – the transfer of goods from one
trading ship to another. Healthcare

• Entrepôt trade – the repackaging and redistribution

of imported goods before re-exporting them (see Facilities
TB Pg. 82 to 83).
What does this graph tell you about Singapore in
the 19th century?
 Free Port Status
Free Port Status
• Watch: Administrative
Changes
[Link]

• What are some of the similarities you see between Law and Order
trade in Singapore then and now?
Education

Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Administrative Changes
• Singapore went through several changes in Administrative
Changes
administration.

• Singapore was under the control of various parties: Law and Order

Education

Healthcare
Raffles East India
1819-1823 Company
1824-1858 India Office in London Facilities
1858-1867
 Free Port Status
Administrative Changes
• From 1867-1942, Singapore was a Crown Colony. Administrative
Changes

• Placed under the Colonial Office in London.

Law and Order
• Crown Colony – a place ruled directly by the British
government on behalf of the British King or Queen. Education

Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Administration by the EIC and
British India Government
(1819-1867) Administrative
Changes

Problems faced by the Singapore government:

Law and Order
• Expanding population meant that there was a
greater need for social services (e.g. education and
Education
healthcare) and better living conditions.

• Increased trade meant that better port facilities Healthcare

and security were needed.
Facilities
 Free Port Status
Administration by the EIC and
British India Government
(1819-1867) Administrative
Changes

• Government tried to impose taxes on Singapore’s

trade but traders protested. Why? Law and Order

• They felt that taxes would affect Singapore’s free

Education
port status, which would affect their business.

• The government then taxed gambling, opium, and Healthcare

liquor. However, gambling was banned in 1929 and
taxes on gambling could no longer be collected.
Facilities
Hence, the government’s revenue fell greatly.
 Free Port Status
Administration by the EIC and
British India Government
(1819-1867) Administrative
Changes

• The EIC later contributed money to run Singapore.

Law and Order
• But the EIC lost their monopoly of trade with China
in the 1830s. Other traders could trade with China
Education
and this affected the EIC’s profits. How do you
think Singapore was affected?
Healthcare
• The EIC cut costs and did not spend money to
improve the Straits Settlements.
Facilities
 Free Port Status
Administration as a Crown Colony
(1867-1942)
Administrative
Changes

• More attention was paid to governance.

Law and Order
• The Colonial Office tried to provide social services.
Education

Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
Administrative
Problems British faced Their solutions Changes

Crime Starting and developing a police force

Labour Abuses Starting the Chinese Protectorate Law and Order
Secret Society Problems Passing the Dangerous Societies Ordinance
Prostitution
Piracy Gunboats Education

Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
Problem: Crime
Administrative
Changes
• Singapore’s population increased greatly: from 150
(1819) to about 6,000 (1821). What were the
reasons for this? Law and Order

• Reasons: more migrants (people who move from Education

one place to another to find employment) and
growth of trade.
Healthcare

• As the population increased, so did the crime rate

(e.g. robberies, murders). Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
British response: The Police Force
Administrative
Changes

Law and Order

Education

Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
British response: The Police Force
Administrative
Changes
Thomas Dunman
• In 1843, he was appointed Deputy Magistrate and
Deputy Superintendent of Police. Law and Order
• In 1857, he became Singapore’s first full-time
Commissioner of Police. Education
• Fought for better working conditions and higher
wages.
• Reduced gang robberies. Healthcare

• Improved quality and morale of police force.

• Retired in 1871. Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
British response: The Police Force
Administrative
Changes
After Dunman retired, police reforms continued:
• In 1881, a police training school was started.
• In 1884, a detective force was started. Law and Order
• Modern investigation methods like fingerprinting
were used to keep records of criminals. Education
• In the 1930s, modern technology like telephones,
motor cars, and radio communications were used.
Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
Problem: Labour abuses, secret
society problems and prostitution Administrative
Changes

• Singapore was an attractive destination for Chinese

migrants but this gave rise to other problems! Law and Order

Education

Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
Problem: Labour abuses, secret
society problems and prostitution Administrative
Changes

• Chinese migrants were called sinkehs (new guests).

Law and Order
• 2 scenarios:
Education
Sinkehs who had money to pay for their passage from
China
Healthcare

Sinkehs who did couldn’t afford their passage money

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
Problem: Labour abuses, secret
society problems and prostitution Administrative
Changes

• Greedy coolie-agents tricked or kidnapped many

coolies. Law and Order

• When coolies arrived in Singapore, coolie-agents Education

locked them in cramped and unhygienic houses to
prevent them from escaping.
Healthcare

• Only released when employers were found.

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
Problem: Labour abuses, secret
society problems and prostitution Administrative
Changes

• Memoirs with a coolie:

[Link] Law and Order
E
Education
• What does this tell you about the lives of coolies?

Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
Problem: Labour abuses, secret
society problems and prostitution Administrative
Changes

• Secret societies were a form of mutual aid for

migrants who came from different parts of China. Law and Order

• They helped migrants find work or lodging. Education

• Many migrants would later join the secret societies.

Healthcare

• Were a source of support for the migrants but also

a source of problems. Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
Problem: Labour abuses, secret
society problems and prostitution Administrative
Changes

• Gangs of up to 200 secret society members would

carry out armed robberies, sometimes in broad Law and Order
daylight, on the houses of rich people.
Education
• Riots in the 1840s and 1850s over territories and
control of vice trades like gambling and
Healthcare
prostitution.

• 1854 Hokkien-Teochew Riots: Facilities

[Link]
 What does this source tell you about law
and order in Singapore in the early 20th
century?
The outrages of the Chinese secret society known as Sin Gee Hin society
have of late been rather alarming, but the latest offence stands out as
one of the most daring. In broad daylight on Saturday afternoon, a gang
of Sin Gee Hin men attacked some other Chinese in Lorong 14, Geylang,
and in the fight that ensued, two men were stabbed to death. It is stated
that some armed police came on the scene of the riot, but they did not
use their rifles, and no arrests were made.

Adapted from The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser , 15 August 1923, Page 100
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
Problem: Labour abuses, secret
society problems and prostitution Administrative
Changes

• Due to poor working conditions, many Chinese

male migrants turned to vices like opium smoking, Law and Order
drinking, gambling, and visiting brothels to escape
their hardship. Education

Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
Problem: Labour abuses, secret
society problems and prostitution Administrative
Changes

• In the 19th century, Singapore had a reputation for

being a sleazy place. Law and Order

• Many young, female migrants from China were Education

tricked into prostitution.

Healthcare
• Promised jobs but were sold to brothels when they
arrived in Singapore.
Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
British response: Chinese
Protectorate and Dangerous Administrative
Changes
Societies Ordinance
Law and Order

Education

Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
British response: Chinese
Protectorate and Dangerous Administrative
Changes
Societies Ordinance
• In 1877, the Chinese Protectorate was set up. Law and Order
• It aimed to tackle the problems of secret societies,
coolie abuses, poverty, and prostitution amongst Education
the Chinese community.
• Headed by William Pickering, who was called the
Protector of the Chinese. Healthcare

• What did the Chinese Protectorate do? Watch:

[Link] Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
British response: Chinese
Protectorate and Dangerous Administrative
Changes
Societies Ordinance
1890 Dangerous Societies Ordinance Law and Order
• Gave Governor the power to banish Chinese
migrants and abolish societies that were too Education
dangerous.

• Worked to a large extent! The Chinese government Healthcare

would execute such individuals when they returned

to China. Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
Problem: Piracy
Administrative
Changes
• Pirates attacked ships travelling along Straits of
Melaka.
• Cargoes were taken. Law and Order
• Travellers were killed or sold as slaves.
• Situation became so bad that pirates were seen Education
attacking ships just outside Singapore’s harbour.
How do you think this impacted Singapore’s trade?
• Many traders stayed away resulting in a fall in Healthcare

profits.
Facilities
 What does this source tell you about
piracy in Singapore in the 19th century?

An atrocious piracy was committed a few nights ago, at Tanjong Panuso,

just outside the harbour, on a native boat returning from this Straits
Settlement to Pulo Laut. The boat, a small defenceless one, was fired
into by the pirates, and we hear that four of the crew were killed, and
two or three dangerously wounded. After having despoiled the boat of
what cargo she had, which consisted principally of rice, the pirates
allowed her to pass.

Adapted from Singapore Chronicle and Commercial Register , 1 May 1834, Page 3
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
Making connections to today
Administrative
Changes
• Are we immune to the threat of piracy today?
Watch:
[Link] Law and Order
M
Education

Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Law and Order
British response: Gunboats
Administrative
Changes
• Government sent gunboats to patrol the waters.
• 3 gunboats in its fleet and unable to curb piracy.
• EIC could not afford a permanent naval force in the Law and Order
Straits Settlements.
Education

Healthcare

• Somewhat resolved only in the early 1870s due to

increased patrolling by British and other European Facilities
powers.
 Free Port Status
Education
• The British paid little attention to education. Administrative
Changes

• From 1830 to 1867, the

government established very few Law and Order
schools.
Education
• Schools were established instead
by Christian missionary groups
and European traders. Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Education
• Before 1867, there were few Administrative
Changes
education opportunities for
students.
Law and Order
• Parents did not see the value of
English-language education. Education

• Chinese education was

non-existent. Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Education
• From 1867, educational activities in Singapore Administrative
Changes
grew. Why do you think this happened?

• Singapore’s rapid economic development after Law and Order

1867 meant that English-speaking clerks were
needed in government and companies. Education

• British promoted English as the medium of

instruction. Healthcare

• Government provided grants to schools that taught Facilities

English to students.
Schools by non-governmental parties

Tao Nan School (est. 1906) Anglo-Chinese School (est. 1886)

 Free Port Status
Healthcare
The government did not provide medical services for Administrative
Changes
the public:
• One or two government doctors cared for sick
soldiers. Law and Order
• A few European doctors served Europeans and rich
Asians. Education
• Poorer Asians could not afford proper medical
treatment.
• Suffered from malnutrition, overcrowding and poor Healthcare

sanitation.
• High death rate among the Asian population. Facilities
 Study this source to find out how life and
healthcare was like for poorer Asians in
colonial Singapore.
Singapore had paupers* since its founding, and most of them were
sickly. In fact, they were closely tied to its early history. The British
government, educated Europeans and Asian community leaders were
aware of them and perceived them to be a social issue. As the port of
Singapore grew, so ill paupers begging and in many cases dying in the
streets became a common sight.
*paupers refers to people who are poor

Adapted from Tuberculosis – The Singapore Experience, 1867–2018 by Loh Kah Seng and Hsu Li Yang
 Free Port Status
Healthcare
Measures to improve public health when Singapore Administrative
Changes
became a Crown Colony:
• Set up a Public Health Department in 1887 to tackle
health issues in the town area. Law and Order
• Set up a malaria (mosquito-borne disease)
committee to drain swamps. Education
• Constructed sewage systems.
• Cleared dirty streets and drains.
• Improved housing conditions. Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Healthcare
• New general hospital was built on Outram Road in Administrative
Changes
1882.

• In 1886, a quarantine law was passed. Law and Order

• Passengers arriving in Singapore by sea had to be Education

checked by doctors. Those suffering from
infectious diseases like smallpox and cholera were
isolated to prevent the spread of diseases. Healthcare

Facilities
General Hospital at Outram; today’s
Singapore General Hospital
Have you ever wondered what St. John’s
Island was used for in the past? Scan the
QR code to find out!
 Free Port Status
Facilities
• British started improving Singapore’s port facilities Administrative
Changes
in the 1850s.

• Reasons: Singapore’s expanding trade and arrival Law and Order

of steamships.
Education
• Old Harbour along the Singapore River was
overcrowded.
Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Facilities: the New Harbour
• Built New Harbour in 1852. Administrative
Changes

• Renamed Keppel Harbour in 1900.

Law and Order
• Harbour had deep waters so steamships and other
ships could sail right up to it. Education

• Sheltered from strong winds and big waves.

Healthcare

Facilities
 Free Port Status
Facilities
• In 1913, the government set up the Singapore Administrative
Changes
Harbour Board (called Maritime Port Authority of
Singapore [MPA] today) to improve the port.
Law and Order
• Built new wharves, docks, storehouses and
machine shops. Education

• Used modern technology like forklifts, cranes and

tractors to load and unload goods. Healthcare

Facilities
Railway system linked port to Malaysia
The Causeway was opened in 1924
02
External
developments
 Opening of the Suez Canal
• The Suez Canal opened on 17 November 1869. Opening of the
Suez Canal

• Prior to that, ships travelling between Europe and

Asia had to sail around the Cape of Good Hope.
Expansion of the
tin and rubber
• This journey was often long and dangerous. industries

• Opening of the Suez Canal coincided with the

increasing use of steamships. The Great
Depression

• Journey from London to Singapore decreased from

120 days to 50 days.
 Opening of the Suez Canal: Impact
• Watch: Opening of the
Suez Canal
[Link]

Singapore benefited from the opening of the Suez

Canal. How? Expansion of the
tin and rubber
• Less time for people, mail and cargo to travel from industries
Europe to Singapore. This meant lower shipping
costs as distance and time was reduced.
• Increased volume of ships passing through the The Great
Straits of Melaka. The ships called at the port of Depression

Singapore to refuel and collect food supplies.

Singapore thus maintained its important position
as a port-of-call.
 Expansion of the tin industry
• By the end of the 19th century, Singapore relied on Opening of the
Suez Canal
the hinterland in Malaya.
• Hinterland – an area supplying raw materials and
goods to a port. Expansion of
• Supplied Malayan commodities like tin and rubber the tin and
to the rest of the world. rubber
industries

Growth of tin industry due to:

• British control of parts of Malaya post-1874. The Great
Peaceful conditions helped develop the tin trade. Depression

• Canning industry in America was booming. This led

to an increase in the demand for tin.
 Expansion of the tin industry
• Malaya could produce more tin due to new Opening of the
Suez Canal
machinery and new methods used by miners.
• In 1874, Malaya was the 4th largest tin producer in
the world. Expansion of
• By the 1890s, it produced over half of the world’s the tin and
tin. rubber
industries
• From 1890, Malaya’s tin was sent to Singapore as
tin ore (tin that has not been purified).
• Straits Trading Company set up a tin smelting The Great
factory in Singapore at Pulau Brani. Depression

• The factory became the world’s leading tin smelter

by 20th century.
Photomap of Straits Trading Co. Tin Plant
on Pulau Brani. Singapore (1944)
 Expansion of the tin industry:
Impact
Opening of the
• Increased trade between Malaya and the Straits Suez Canal
Settlements, especially Singapore.
• Increased trade Singapore had with other parts of
the world. Expansion of
the tin and
• Tin trade brought handsome profits to many rubber
businessmen in Singapore. industries
• Increased prosperity in Singapore.
• By the end of the 19th century, tin was one of the
The Great
most important trade items for Singaporean Depression
traders.
 Expansion of the rubber industry
• Singapore exported rubber in large quantities in Opening of the
Suez Canal
the early 20th century.

• Sparked by demand for rubber tyres in the motor Expansion of

car industry. the tin and
rubber
industries
• Planters in Malaya and Singapore started growing
rubber to meet this demand.
The Great
Depression
 Expansion of the rubber industry:
Impact
Opening of the
• European and Chinese traders in Singapore also Suez Canal
saw opportunity to make money by providing
capital into starting rubber plantations.
• Capital – money and things needed to start a Expansion of
the tin and
business. rubber
• In 1911, the Singapore Chamber of Commerce industries
established a Rubber Association which organised
rubber sales.
The Great
• Malaya later became the world’s largest producer Depression
of rubber and exported most of it through
Singapore.
 The Great Depression
• Hit Singapore’s trade and industries in the 1930s. Opening of the
Suez Canal

• What happened during the Great Depression?

Watch:
[Link] Expansion of the
tin and rubber
industries

The Great
Depression
 The Great Depression: Impact
• Singapore was hard hit! Why? Opening of the
Suez Canal

• Its economy depended largely on overseas trade,

especially the export of Malayan tin and rubber to
America. Expansion of the
tin and rubber
industries
• Prices of tin and rubber fell drastically from 34
cents (1929) to 4.95 cents (June 1932).
The Great
• Companies suffered losses. To cut expenses, they Depression

retrenched workers.

• Businessmen became bankrupt.

 The Great Depression: Impact
• Very difficult to find jobs: hundreds would apply Opening of the
Suez Canal
for one vacancy.
• Government had to retrench staff.
• Reduced pay of staff who remained.
• Passed a series of laws from 1928 to reduce the Expansion of the
tin and rubber
number of migrants (especially unskilled male industries
Chinese labourers) from entering Singapore.
• Many Chinese and Indians were sent back to China
and India. The Great
• By 1934, business conditions improved. Depression

• Exports from Singapore to America and elsewhere

picked up.
 What does this source tell you about the
impact of the Great Depression among
people who lived in Singapore?
Life in Singapore during the Depression was considerably varied. Estate
workers, clerks and labourers in the international economy suffered
more than those in the local economy, such as government employees.
Although they were a minority, people with stable employment
experienced a low cost of living in the early 1930s. Those who took up
work as hawkers, farmers or tutors could get by if they could survive the
increased competition.

Adapted from an account by Singaporean historian Loh Kah Seng describing the impact of the Great
Depression on people in Singapore published in 2006
 What does this source tell you about the
impact of the Great Depression among
workers in Singapore?

*the lower figure denotes wages for morning work.

**estate workers could refer to workers working on rubber plantations

Adapted from Labour Department (1929–1933), Straits Settlements Annual Departmental Reports
 Conclusion: Why was Singapore a
bustling port city by 1942?
Singapore had considerable trading networks and trade was at an all-time high.
Why was this so?

British External developments

Policies that promoted trade, e.g. Opening of the Suez Canal
modern port facilities so that (1869) and growth of tin and
Singapore could handle a larger rubber industries (late 19th and
volume of trade early 20th centuries)
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