Hock Lee Bus riots(1955)

What happened?
-On April in 1955, workers and some Chinese students began to go on strike. They were members of the Singapore Bus Workers' Union (SBWU) and were protesting against poor working conditions, long work hours and low pay. They also felt threatened by a rival union which was supported by the bus company to counter any labour action by SBWU.

The rival union, with 200 spare workers, was formed by the bus company to avert any possibility of strikes by the SBWU. The strikers attempted to stop the bus from leaving the depots.

Who were involved?
The students from chinese middle school came and joined the strikers in a show of support by organising donation drives, brought food and money and entertained the workers with songs and dances.

Why?
> Thursday, 12 May.
A major riot broke out that is known as "black Thursday". When the police tried to break up the 2000 students. They used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the mob. Two police officer dead as a result including Detective Corporal
who was burned to death when the car he was in was set alight by rioters, and Teo Bock Lan Andrew, who was severely beaten by the mob and succumbed to his injuries in hospital.



Number of victims?
The Hock Lee bus riots occurred on May 12, 1955, in Singapore. Three people were killed and 31 injured in the violent and bloody riot.

In total, two police officers, a student and an American press correspondent, Gene Symonds, died and many more were seriously injured.