Hock Lee Bus Riots_2 Unity by Punitha

Neo Rui En Maybelline: Hock Lee Bus Riots

2014-07-18 11:45:34 UTC

1. What do you think went wrong, leading to the tensed situation? The British were insensitive towards the locals; they refused to empathise with the plight of the locals, whereby they are nearly living in poverty due to low pay and poor working conditions, thus the British government's ignorance and disregard towards their strike caused anger to eventually evolve into riots. Furthermore, by calling in the police, the British government implies a refusal towards their strike, which would only anger the strikers more.

2. How did the British handle the worsening situation?

They called in the police, who used batons to clear the crowd when the strikers blocked the gate and threw stones at them.

3. What lessons can be learnt?

The incident shook the belief that we are a stable and progressive society. Thus, I learnt that we should learn to appreciate the peace we have in Singapore, and not take the extensive transport networks, and the air-conditioned public vehicles for granted.

Kong Ee Yern - Hock Lee Bus Riots

2014-07-19 15:07:49 UTC

After watching ‘Days of Rage’ on the Hock Lee Bus Riots, I feel that both the British and the Communists were at fault for the cause of the riots. The Communists were the ones who instigated the riot and they were also the ones who asked the Chinese students to go on riot together with them. The workers were unhappy about the low wages they receive, the long working hours they work for and the poor working conditions, thus they decided to go on a riot hoping that they would be treated better. Thus, the Communists got a gentle man, Fong Swee Suan, to instigate anti-British feelings into people and made them join in the riots. The British were also partially at fault for causing the riots to take place. The British did not treat the Chinese fairly, they did not give the same amount of money to Chinese schools compared to English schools as the British did not like the Chinese and felt that the Chinese were all anti-British. This has led to the students not wanting to support the British and instead, going against them. These were the causes which led to a violent riot from a peaceful demonstration.

Police were being called in to control the situation. This was not a good idea as people’s anti-British feelings escalated and many felt infuriated, thus causing the situation to worsen. From the Hock Lee Bus Riots, I learnt the importance of cherishing the peace and security that we are able to enjoy now in Singapore.

Joan Seow: Hock Lee Bus Riots

2014-07-19 16:45:01 UTC

After viewing Days of Rage report on the Hock Lee Bus Riots, I feel that the the British were many responsible for this tense and disastrous rioting in Singapore. They were unsympathetic of the plight of the locals, their low wages and poor working conditions. Chinese were treated unjustly because they were considered as strongly anti-British and this was also instigated be the British, as their unfair treatment led to the huge masses of Chinese students and locals being involved in the riot. As the strike progressed, I think that the intention of the Chinese students who were involved in the riot was not to help support the Hock Lee bus workers anymore, but as outlet to express their anger and vehemence of the British treatment towards them.

Calista Io-Hock Lee Bus Riots

2014-07-20 09:24:53 UTC

The Hock Lee Bus riots are a clear demonstration of the people's anti-British sentiments. In my opinion, what went wrong in this case was the British's inability to respond effectively to the riot. A major catalyst of the chaos was the British's immediate use of violence to control the crowd, a wrong decision that led to more chaos and placed authorities in a distorted light. However, I would think that the main cause of this social unrest is the fact that the British had underestimated and failed to comprehend the people's exact sentiments towards the nation's political situation. Such is the underlying characteristic of all the riots (Anti-National service, etc), and in this case was a weakness that the Communists had taken full advantage of. Another important reason was the apparent state of disorder within the nation's structure of political leadership-Days of Rage shows the lack of trust between even David Marshall and the British, as well as the authorities' indecisiveness to take up purposeful action. On hindsight, it is clear that the moves made by the British have been unwise. The British, of course, made the effort to stabilize the situation, but they also made the obvious mistake of failing to factor in human emotion into the political equation-the mistake that turned the whole situation in the favor of the Communists and transformed ordinary middle school students and illiterate workers into a monstrous threat to the nation's political and social stability. Indeed, this tumultuous episode has made me realize how easy it is for internal threats like these to tear apart the peace and order of a nation. I have also learned the importance of establishing a reliable, trusted connection between the people and the nation's leaders, and that good leaders are necessary to identify with and respond effectively to the people's needs. If not, it is inevitable that the lack of such leadership will result in events like the Hock Lee Bus riots becoming commonplace within a backdrop of chaos and unrest in a divided nation too unfit to live in.

Cheyenne Leow

2014-07-20 15:18:59 UTC

After watching the Hock Lee Bus Riots video, I feel deeply for both the British and the Communists. Both of the sides were at fault but both sides too suffered greatly as a result of their actions. I feel that the reason the riot started was that there was no communication between the British and the locals. The British simply viewed Singapore as a mean to earn more money and to stabilize their economy after their losses in WW2 and did not really care about the Singaporeans' welfare. As a result, the people felt neglected as the British seemed to not care for the plight of the locals despite the fact that most of them were living in poverty. Even as the British knew that the workers are unhappy, they still sort of sided with the bus company and did not do anything to help the worsening situation. By the time things got out of hand, it was too late. Many people were killed and injured because the British was biased against the Chinese and felt that there were many anti-British elements in the Chinese Community which was not the case. Also, when the British sent in the police, it merely sparked the locals' rage to a greater extent and did not manage to diffuse the situation. I learnt that we have to be more understanding and willing to listen to each other and to treasure what we have now from this incident.

Elizabeth Koh

2014-07-21 08:14:13 UTC

The Hock Lee Bus riots was originally a harmless strike, only meant to express the workers' discontent for the poor working conditions, long work hours and low pay. Yet, a strike proved to be insufficient, as the British disregarded the demands and attempted to control the crowd using force, instead of settling for a peaceful negotiation. The British government's lack of understanding for the strikers and their use of violence not only bred and fuelled anti-british feelings, but also inadvertedly helped the strikers by gaining them more public sympathy and support. This then provided ample opportunity for the communists, who encouraged the anger brewing against the British, as well as the government. The British instigated the wrath of the strikers through their merciless handling of the strike, thus was the transition from a peaceful strike to a violent riot. Through the British's foolish handling of the situation, 4 lives were lost, and 31 people were injured. The distrust against the British and the people's desire for self governance was intensified by what came across as the British not caring about the people's welfare and opinions. From this incident, I learnt that should a situation like this ever arise again, our government must make quick, decisive decisions on how to act, and yet not be implosive as the British were, and mishandle the situation again. Through the poor handling of the riots due to distrust between the British and David Marshall, I learnt that there must also be a certain degree of trust within the government, as too much tension between the different parties could delay an effective, decisive decision in times of crisis.

Lee Chia Ying

2014-07-21 09:37:04 UTC

After watching the video, I realised that the Hock Lee Bus Riots was initially a peaceful strike, but soon escalated into a violent riot because of what the British did in hope of getting rid of the 'obstacle' quickly. In the video, one of the interviewees mentioned that the British only regarded Singapore as a 'money tree', as a source to earn more money, and did not care about the locals' welfare at all. I feel that this indeed seemed to be the case as they had commanded the police to use violence in the form of powerful water cannons to disperse the huge crowd of strikers, which caused many injuries due to the sharp debris on the ground. This angered the strikers, and was the trigger point of the riot that resulted in four innocent lives lost and many injured.

I feel that the main lesson learnt from this Riot is the importance of trust. If the relationship between David Marshall and the British had a certain degree of trust in it, they would have been able to come to a agreed conclusion together to end the initial strike peacefully, without any violence. Therefore, I believe that trust is an important factor for a stable and solid relationship.

Trina Chong

2014-07-21 09:53:45 UTC

After watching this video, I learnt more about the Hock Lee Bus Riots than I would ever find in my textbook. I realise that the feelings and mindset of the people involved matter more to man-made disasters like these than the irrational acts that actually took place. It was clear that the workers had suffered for a really long time because their desperation justified the outrageous acts they committed, including the murder of the Chinese detective and English reporter. They used chaos and disorder as political tools to achieve what they wanted. I think they may have lost their heads for awhile because they were too hungry for better treatment and higher wages. Maybe they had no intention of wreaking so much havoc, but was merely acting according to the negative energy within the mob. I think that there is blame to share because the number of workers in the bus companies was simply too overwhelming to be controlled as well. Nonetheless, most the damages caused by this intense riot can be repaired in time, and the only thing worth holding on to are the lessons we learn in its aftermath. Violence is never the best way to resolve such disputes because it only galvanized the workers to greater fury. The anti NS riots in chapter 7 was also a matter that got out of hand because of the police's use of violence. A harmless strike could have easily been resolved if only the government had the patience to negotiate amiably with the people and if the workers had the tolerance to listen to the government's terms and explanation. It isn't easy to make the right decision during times of tumult, but it is in the course of it all that good leaders emerge.

Loh Wen Qi

2014-07-21 12:15:14 UTC

One major issue of the Hock Lee Bus Riots is the lack of trust on two levels

a) Between the British Government and the public

With memories of WWII still fresh in the minds of many, especially since the riots took place just a decade after the war, anti-British sentiments were still brewing. People felt betrayed by the British when they left Singaporeans to fend for themselves during the war and could not start on a fresh page. This anger and hatred worsened when the British reacted poorly and ineffectively to strikers from the Hock Lee Bus Company. Police forces were violent towards crowds, instead of opting for more peaceful negotiations. The British were seen as cynical, just like how the bus company was viewed as, entities that only cared for their own self-interests instead of the well-being of the masses. The way police dealt with strikers further brought out greater sympathy for the bus workers by members of the public, especially Chinese middle school students. These enraged students then caused further havoc which quickly caused the peaceful strike to become a chaotic riot.

b) Between David Marshall and the British authorities back in Britain

There should have been greater trust between both parties. As can be seen from the video, the British authorities did not believe that David Marshall was capable enough to carry out the plan of action he proposed in Britain. This sense of distrust then had a trickle-down effect onto the public which was the root cause of the violent riots.

I feel both the British and the general public have equal responsibility in the Hock Lee Bus Riots. On one hand, a full-on riot could have been avoided if the government had made the decision to negotiate peacefully with strikers instead. On the other hand, workers and other rioters could have given the British a chance to explain the circumstances to them instead of rushing to the most extreme way. As the saying goes, "All roads lead to Rome." There was definitely the more appropriate path of negotiations which could have prevented the loss of the 4 lives.

I also find it despicable how political figures master-manipulated the masses in order to achieve their own political success. They played on people's anti-British feelings and allowed them to do their dirty work for them. Perhaps, there could have been a more justified manner of gaining political recognition.

Sydney Lai Mu-En

sydney25pie — 2014-07-21 13:24:11 UTC

The Hock Lee Bus riots began peacefully, with the bus workers and several Chinese students using a strike as a way to express their thoughts and feelings to the British. However, it quickly escalated into a bloody and gruesome fight between the British and the locals.

I think one of the main reasons this happened was due to the inappropriate handling of the situation of their strike.

Chloe Kuan Qiaoxin

2014-07-21 13:37:13 UTC

After watching the video on the Hock Lee Bus Riots, I find it very astounding how a peaceful protest can escalate to a full-fledged riot in a matter of days. At first, the protest was harmonious with no signs of violence, however, it soon escalated to a riot that caused 4 deaths and 31 injuries.

In my opinion, I think that the main reason was the lack of trust between the locals and the British. After World War 2, many of the locals lived in poverty and had a severe lack of food. However, the British only saw them as sources of "money-making" and did not put in much consideration and effort into caring for the locals' welfare. This thus could have generated the locals' displeasure towards the British. Furthermore, in order to clear up the entrance of the bus depot, the British made use of powerful water canons, which caused several injuries to the locals as they fell to the ground at a great impact. This hence also proves the lack of care the British showed to the people, and further sparked the hatred the people had against the British. Instead, I felt that the British could have made use of other alternatives such as peaceful negotiations (as the locals only protested for better pay and working conditions). The lack of violence used by the British would also result in a lack of sympathy the public showed towards those who were on strike, which further fueled the riot. Also, the fact that the British thought that the students who participated in the strike were communist, affected the outcome of the strike, which could have been a peaceful protest in the first place.

In conclusion, I feel that the riot was not caused solely by the locals or the British, and the main driving force behind the locals' actions was probably the lack of trust and communication between both parties, which led to the impulsive ways of the British (in trying to disperse the crowd), and then subsequently led to the increased sympathy, displeasure and violence from the locals. From this riot, I learnt the importance of harmony and how things can be better solved without the need for violence.

Joey Koh Zu Yu

2014-07-21 13:43:37 UTC

It was indeed surprising to know that a strike to improve working conditions can turned into a riot. The Hock Lee Bus Riots started as the workers were protesting against poor working conditions, long work hours and low pay by going on a strike. The British thought that taking tougher actions like using tear gas and water cannons, towards the rioters and strikers would improved the situation as they felt that a more aggressive approach would be more beneficial to the situation. However, this led to the gain of more public sympathy and support for the strikers, which inflamed the situation even more, causing the originally calm strike to escalate into a violent riot.

I think that if the British and the workers had better communications and negotiation, the peaceful strike would not have escalated to a violent one. It is indeed regretful and saddening to see how the lack of communications could caused such a big uproar between the British and the Chinese, taking 4 innocent lives away. This unfortunate incident could definitely be prevented if violence means to break the riots and disperse the crowds were not used.

Lam Pei Shi

2014-07-21 14:28:03 UTC

After watching the Days of Rage episode on the Hock Lee Bus Riots, I was astonished at how the initial peaceful strike, which was meant only to show the people’s discontent towards their poor working conditions, long work hours and low pay, could turn into a violent and bloody strike which resulted in 4 deaths and 31 injuries.

A major cause of this chaos was the British’s immediate use of force and violence to control the crowd. However, this has proved to be a foolish decision for it had further bred anti-British feelings, leading to greater chaos. Nevertheless, I feel that the most important reason was the lack of trust between the British and the people. After World War II, the people of Singapore lived in poverty and living conditions were poor. However, the British did not put in much effort in caring for the welfare of the people and disregarded the demands. This lack of understanding and empathy brewed the people’s anger towards the British, and with the instigation of the pro-communists, resulted in the violent Hock Lee Bus Riots.

I feel that the British has a huge responsibility in the Hock Lee Bus Riots. If the government had made the decision to have an amiable negotiation with the strikers instead of using force, the riots could have been avoided. On the other hand, the people should have also remained their composure and given the British a chance for explanation before going to the extremes of a riot. From this saddening historical event, I have come to realise that internal threats can easily tear a nation apart. Therefore, it is important for the government to establish a trusted connection with the people and respond efficiently to their needs and demands, in order to prevent similar torturous events from happening again.

Lam Pei Shi

2014-07-21 14:29:54 UTC

Allison Hoe Jia En

2014-07-21 14:34:10 UTC

I feel that both sides were in the wrong with regards to this situation. Perhaps the bus drivers could have used a less extreme method of expressing their displeasure such as writing a petition. The decision to hold a strike did succeed in making a statement on how dissatisfied the workers were over their working conditions. However, due to the violent reaction from the British forces, the somewhat peaceful demonstration escalated into a full-fledged riot heaped with bloodshed and unnecessary loss of lives. It only takes a spark to get a fire going. Therefore, the slightest hint of violence could probably have resulted in many attacking each other irrationally, blinded by anger.

I feel there were several rather dire consequences of the British decision in the way they handled the strikes. By resorting to violence like how the British troops used batons on the citizens, this gave the people yet more reason to declare that the British were unreasonable and not doing a good job in governing Singapore. Personally, I think this may have further strained the relationship between the British and the citizens, making their dwindling faith shrink even more. After all, surely we modern Singaporeans too would not feel comfortable and safe with a government that uses violence and threats to control their people.

There are some lessons to take away from the Hock Lee Bus Riots. For starters, I believe it is important to control your anger and other emotions so that you can rationally think of a solution to your problem. This prevents you from getting an unwanted retaliation such as violence or insults from the other party. Next, the government probably learnt that violence is not a very effective way to control the people. While the strikes were brought to an end, people had even more displeasure towards the British after the riots. Finally, without a doubt I have learnt to cherish the modern government. Leaders who are willing to listen to the peoples' views and work on their suggestions peacefully are not something to be taken for granted.

Gloria Lee

2014-07-21 14:36:23 UTC

The Hock Lee bus riots definitely went out of hand, going from peaceful protesting to fatal street fighting and blind murdering. The main catalyst to this chaos was probably the British's decision to disperse the crowd by force and not offering a peaceful solution to the problem. They only made the situation worse by sending the police force to use water hoses and tear gas to forcefully remove the demonstrators, which was definitely not a smart move by the British - violence never gets anyone anywhere. As a result of their incapability to take matters into their hands, the protests escalated into rioting and the murdering of innocent passers-by. From the video we could conclude that though the rioters did have discontentments over their working conditions and anti-British feelings, they were acting mainly under the communists' influence. It was only under the leadership of these communists that they considered taking action. Thus we can conclude that the communists were the main reason why the workers decided to go on strike. From this episode of Singapore's history we can learn that issues cannot be solved by violence alone and that the government has the duty to come up with a peaceful solution that both sides could agree to so as to reach on an amiable agreement.

Lim Yi Ching

2014-07-21 14:37:27 UTC

After watching the episode on the Hock Lee Bus Riots, I feel that it could have been avoided as it started out as an innocent matter where people were just fighting for better living conditions and if the British had handled it more carefully, there would then might have no deaths or injuries. Though it might be easier to blame the damage done back the on the British, it would be incorrect as the locals also had a part to play in causing all the mayhem and chaos. In my opinion, if the British had taken into account of how the locals felt, they could be able to sympathise with them and work out their differences harmoniously, instead of rubbing salt onto their wound an blowing up the matter. It would seem that the riots were so violent that even the strikes could be considered as "peaceful". Therefore it was definitely not a smart move by the British, as they not only caused discontent towards them among the people but also their faith in them as they no longer trust the British Government. I have learn that in order to settle disputes, we cannot add oil to the fire but instead add water by settling it equally and not by each others status.

Melliana

2014-07-21 14:50:57 UTC

After watching the video, I was shocked to see how the innocent people were dragged into the chaos and lost their previous lives. And the British have not handled the situation appropriately as they are quick to jump into violence in handling those people on strike. They should first handle the people's welfare fairly knowing their difficulties in supporting their families with the meagre some of money earned and long hours of working. Chinese students supported then as they probably also want to vent their anger at the British treating then unfairly due to the assumption that they were all anti-british... though policemen were sent to stop the strike, there was still no improvements made to the worsened situation.

From this video I have learnt that the British were really not good in handling such situations as they seemed to follow only a set of procedure in handling cases like this and not giving the elected party the total control over internal matters.

2014-07-21 14:53:08 UTC

Crystal Loo

After watching the video about the Hock Lee Bus Riots, I was quite shocked to know how serious the riot became when it only started from workers being unsatisfied with their working conditions. The protest lasted for quite a few days and had caused 4 deaths and 31 injuries. I feel the cause of the Hock Lee Bus Riots was mainly by the British government who first provoked the locals by giving them terrible conditions to work in and giving the political parties only a small portion of governance in Singapore. This then lead to people turning communist as they no longer trust the government. The British did not do much when the riot started to worsen because the police used unfair methods to try to 'resolve' the situation, such as firing water canons at the rioters to clear the crowd which injured many. The use of force to handle this situation was definitely not the right was to handle the situation. The government could have tried to approach the situation in a less violent manner by trying to negotiate with the citizens and it would have probably worked if the British were not so selfish and were willing to give in in times like this. However, I feel that the rioters could have also played their part by knowing their limits when trying to go against the government. Many of them risked their lives just to show the British their unsatisfactory towards them which was not worth it at all, due to the possible consequences. All in all, I think it is very important for a government to be trusted by its people, so as to keep the country safe and united. Also when dealing with such situations, the government should bear in mind the consequence of using violence, so as to prevent such serious incidents from happening again.

Joanne Lye

2014-07-21 15:12:16 UTC

After watching the video episode, I found out more about the Hock Lee Bus Riots, the government's response to the situation and the lessons we can learn from it.

It is appalling how what started as a fairly peaceful strike for better pay could garner so much support and even escalate to a violent riot. I think that the government could have responded faster to the situation because as the strike went on, the striking Hock Lee workers also gained more sympathy and support from workers from other trade unions and Chinese students. The large numbers could have thus played a part in riling up feelings during the riot that took place later on. If the government had been able to settle the situation appropriately earlier on, the riot could have thus been prevented. The government could have also appeased the crowd and better responded to the masses by trying to peacefully negotiate with them rather than calling in police that used methods of violence such as water cannons and tear gas to deal with the weaponless people. The violence against them only sparked anger amongst the workers and other Chinese, encouraging them to start fighting back.

I also think that the Chinese workers and students should have kept their cool and been more rational in the situation. Instead of rioting, they could have retreated for that day and sent appeals to the government. However, I agree that striking and rioting had a greater impact and eventually gave them what they wanted (although at the unfortunate cost of 4 deaths and 31 injuries). The Communists were clever in spreading anti-British feelings among the Chinese workers and influencing them to strike at an appropriate time. But it was despicable of them to make use of the people for their own public recognition so as to promote Communist feelings.

Lessons learnt from the Hock Lee Bus Riots include the importance of timing and careful planning and organisation in a large scale event, the consequences of anger and violence, and the importance of appropriate response.

Chloe Lim

2014-07-21 15:18:25 UTC

After watching the video, it was shocking how a peaceful strike for better living conditions could lead to such a serious riot

Jung Jia Shuen

2014-07-21 15:22:27 UTC

After watching the video, i feel that what was intended to be a 'low-key' riot meaning to express the workers discontent of prolonged working hours yet such low pay turned into a riot resulting in 4 deaths and 31 injuries. i feel that the riot started because of the lack of communication between the two sides and also because the British disregarded the locals feelings. The British disregarded the locals demands and instead of settling the issue amicably, decides to use force to control the situation. by bringing in the police made situations worse as this made the people involved feel even more neglected and thus they felt angry towards the British, this motivated them to not stand down from the strike and fight the British back. the British resorting to violence sparked much discontent and thus the workers earned the support of Chinese students and other trade unions. what could have concluded in an peaceful agreement turned into the lost of many innocent lives, what seemed as a normal strike for higher pay turned into a riot. this breed distrust among the two parties and thus thoughts on a self-government were raised even more. i learnt that communication between the locals and the government is essential. if both sides have the patience to hear the other party out, much hate and distrust could be avoided and many lives would not have been lost when they could be safe. we also need to trust in the government to lead us in the most favorable way. because distrust may breed misunderstandings and thus create tension between both parties.

Chloe Lim

2014-07-21 15:27:35 UTC

After watching the video, i find it shocking how a peaceful strike for better living conditions could lead to such a serious riot, leading to 4 deaths and 31 injuriesI think

Chee Si Ning, Gayle

2014-07-21 15:35:25 UTC

I feel that due to the British's ignorance towards the bus workers' feelings, the initial peaceful strike escalated to become disastrous and deadly riots. The government was insensitive to the feelings of the people and the only had one motive at the time, to stop the riots. They did not think of possiibilities and jumped straight into using violence to try to control the crowds. This only further fueled the people's anger towards the government and thus resulting in the riots. The bus worker's merely wanted a better pay, better working conditions and shorter working hours. The 4 deaths and 31 injuries could have been avoided if the British had deicided to take another course of action instead of immediately resorting to violence. One important lesson to be learnt is that mutual trust and understanding between the government and its people is crucial in having a peaceful and harmonious country with no riots or strikes. Also, violence and force should not be the solution to any problem as they will only result to innocent lives lost.

Chloe Lim

2014-07-21 15:58:33 UTC

After watching this video, I find it shocking that such a peaceful protest for better working conditions, higher pay and shorter working hours, could lead to such a violent riot, causing 4 deaths and 31 injuries. I feel that the British was the main cause of this riot. I think the British made a wrong decision to use force and violence like using water cannon and tear gas, to control the crowd as it only caused the strikers' anti-British feelings to rise. Also, the British only treated Singapore as a source for them to earn more money. They neglected the locals and did not care that most of them were living in poverty. If the British could understand and empathise with the locals, the strike would not have started. If the locals and the government had trust and had better communications, i believe this riot would not have escalated into such a serious and violent one as both parties could have reached a compromise.

Ganghua

2014-07-21 17:54:36 UTC

this video shows one of the the darkest periods of Singapore’s history when politics and race were tore apart communities; when trade unions brought the economy to a standstill; where saboteurs were bent on making this country fail; and terrorism reared its ugly head. It is really depressing that the innocent workers only request the get a higher pay and also better treatment. However such peaceful protest worsened to a fatal riot.

the british did not think of the root of the problem and jump straight into violence. That of course doesn't not solve the problem, instead it worsened the situation. the workers became even more provoked and angry towards the government. The British were too brutal in handling those weaponless workers. They used jet water to break their chain, causing them to be injured and even death.

One of the lessons that can be learnt from the Hock Lee Riot is that the government and the citizens should have mutual trust and both parties should have well communicated in case of any misunderstandings. It is also important for the government to remain clam and maintain order of his people.

Weng Pei Wen

2014-07-21 22:24:19 UTC

After watching Days of Rage on Hock Lee Bus Riots, I think that what went wrong is because of the lack of understanding and communication both parties have with each other. The Chinese could have negotiated with the British, but they felt that a strike was necessary in order to really achieve their objective. Had the British felt the need to listen to the voices of the people, the earlier peaceful strike would not have turned into rioting. Also, the situation would not have worsened if the British have not sent in the police. By sending in the police to forcibly remove the crowd, they are actually initiating the violence. It indirectly gnarled more support for the communists and the workers.

However, it is worth to note that some of these workers and students do not understand that this dispute was used for political purposes rather than industrial purposes. The workers merely wanted more pay and the students are enraged that the British did not treat the Chinese fairly. The communists used this opportunity to breed anti-British feelings and to challenge the government so as to gain popularity with the people in Singapore.

This incident shows the importance of peace in a country, and how it does not always come easy and that we should not take the present peace and harmony for granted.

2014-07-22 16:08:09 UTC

This video involves the bus workers and the police workforce party. I feel that this riot has been placed was because British were not caring enough towards the Hock Lee company and hence the workers started a riot. The British only had the thought of stopping the riot, and end up hurting lots of innocent victims and some results in death. By using violence and force to control the crowd will only further agitate the workers . One important lesson that must be learnt from this riot is that there must be smart thinking before reacting to a big crime and mutual communications. Both parties need to calm down, and talk this through instead of starting a riot which will not result in any good.