Year 1955

Indian Pilot Performed Aerobatics Over Paya Lebar

Friday, 16th December 1955

Indian Air Force Squadron Leader B.K. Ghosh in a display of aerobatics at the newly opened Paya Lebar Airport. The Hindustan Aircraft Limited (HAL) HT-2, an all metal basic trainer, is on a tour of Eastern Asia.


Asia Insurance Building Officially Opened

Monday, 10th October 1955

Asia Insurance Building officially opened with 20 storeys and at 87 metres tall, the Asia Insurance Building was the tallest building in Southeast Asia upon its completion in 1954. The Asia Insurance Building was named after its former namesake occupant, Asia Insurance, which is a Singaporean company incorporated on 11 July 1923. The Asia Insurance Building was designed by one of Singapore's pioneer architects, Ng Keng Siang. Ng was a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and designed the building after the prevailing Modern Movement. He also exhibited a strong liking for eclectic architectural styles.


Malcolm MacDonald Leave Singapore

Friday, 2nd September 1955

Mr. Malcolm MacDonald was in Singapore for nine year as Commissioner-General for South-East Asia. The Governor of Singapore, Sir Robert Black and Lady Black and Service Chiefs wait on the Paya Lebar Airport Tarmac. was honoured by a 100-man guard and the band of 1st Bn of The Queen's Royal Regiment with a large crowd singing "Auld Lang Syne".


Paya Lebar Airport Opened

Saturday, 20th August 1955

Singapore Paya Lebar International Airport with its imposing hangars and spacious passenger terminal was opened by Alan Lennox-Boyd, Secretary of State for Colonies. The first pilot to land at Singapore International Airport was First Officer Chan Soon Kin of Malayan Airways, who till then had clocked 8,000 flying hours to his credit. The Paya Lebar Airport replaces the Old Kallang Airport as Singapore's International Airport.


CPF Started

Friday, 1st July 1955

The British colonial authority in Singapore introduced the Central Provident Fund (CPF) as a compulsory savings scheme so as to allow workers to save for their retirement, 10 years after the end of the Japanese Occupation when people were struggling to make ends meet.


Robert Black Appointed as Singapore Governor

Thursday, 30th June 1955

Sir Robert Brown Black was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Singapore from 30 June 1955 to 9 December 1957.


Hock Lee bus riots

Thursday, 12th May 1955

Four people are killed during the Hock Lee bus riots. The Hock Lee bus strike began peacefully but escalated into a violent riot in which four people were killed and 31 injured. During the strike, large numbers of dismissed bus workers locked themselves in the Hock Lee garages at Alexandra Road and picketed at the gates.


Singapore Legislative Assembly 2nd General Election

Sunday, 3rd April 1955

The second general election for the Legislative Assembly was a lively and closely-fought affair, with several new political parties joining the fray. Unlike previous elections, voters were automatically registered, expanding the electorate to around 300,000.The SPP was soundly defeated in the election, winning only four seats. The newly-formed, left-leaning Labour Front was the biggest winner with ten seats was led by David Marshall. Labour Front formed a coalition government with the UMNO-MCA Alliance, which won three seats. Another new party, the leftist People's Action Party (PAP) led by Lee Kuan Yew, won three seats.


Lee Kuan Yew Wins The Tanjong Pagar Seat

Sunday, 3rd April 1955

Chinese Students lifted Mr. Lee Kuan Yew to shoulder-high after the announcement that he was the successful candidate for Tanjong Pagar. Mr. Lee (PAP) got 6629 votes. His closest rival was Mr. Peter Lim Seck Tiong (Progressive Party) with only 908 votes.


Lim Chin Siong Elected Assemblyman

Saturday, 2nd April 1955

Mr. Lim Chin Siong was elected Assemblyman for Bukit Timah. Then 22 years old, he was and remained the youngest Assemblyman ever to be elected into office.


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