1. Hock Lee Bus Riot

2. • This riot took place in the 12th of May 1955 during the
government of David Marshall
• The workers of Hock Lee Amalgamated Bus Company
were members of the Singapore Bus Worker Union and
Hock Lee Employees Union. The leaders of the union
were Lim Chin Siong and Fong Swee Suan
• In April, the workers from Singapore Bus Workers’ Union
want to go on strike because they want to work in a
better condition and pay under Communist influence
• 229 workers were fired by Hock Lee Bus Company

3. • The fired workers then blocked the gates at the company
bus depot at Alexandra Road and don’t let the bus from
leaving the depot. . They did this because they want to
protest against the company’s action
• When the police were called, the fired workers were so
mad that they stoned the police. The police then fight
back with their batons. The fight lead to 15 people injured
• The protest gained it’s support from the Chinese School
students who came in lorries and entertained the fired
workers.

4. • Those fired workers finally got back their jobs after the
riot.
• The riot caused the British to think that David Marshall
was not capable of solving the problems of the riot and
the communist attack because he made an empty
agreement
• The British don’t think that David Marshall can protect
Singapore from falling into communist attacks. This
caused the Merdeka talks to fail

5. • David Marshall tried to talk with the fired workers by
forming the Commission of Inquiry. However, nothing was
done and no agreement was made so the strike continue
• 6 other companies also strike which worsen the condition
• The police uses fire hose to control the workers and
students from doing anything.
• A riot took place in the 12th of May 1955 which was also
known as the Black Thursday. The workers attacked the
police with bricks, stones and bottles
• The riot was put down in the 14th of May 1955.