The City Council of Singapore was the administrative council of the
City of Singapore responsible for the provision of water, electricity, gas, roads and bridges and street lighting.
It was dissolved in 1959 when Singapore attained self-governance from the
British Empire
The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts e ...
, and it was subsequently abolished upon Singapore's independence from Malaysia in 1965.
The first fully elected council was elected in
1957
1957 ( MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1957th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 957th year of the 2nd millennium, the 57th year of the 20th century, and the 8th year ...
, followed with a by-election in
1958
Events
January
* January 1 – The European Economic Community (EEC) comes into being.
* January 3 – The West Indies Federation is formed.
* January 4
** Edmund Hillary's Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition completes the third ...
. Prior to 1957, franchise was limited and there were appointed members.
It signed the ''Tebrau and Scudai Rivers Water Agreement'' and the ''Johor River Water Agreement'' with the
Johore State Government of
Malaya in 1961 and 1962 respectively.
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History
As a British colony, Singapore was conferred city status by a royal charter
A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but s ...
from King George VI in 1951, when Singapore was then a Crown colony of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. The original Municipal Council was therefore renamed City Council, and the Municipal Building was renamed City Hall. In 1965, upon Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
, the Republic of Singapore Independence Act 1965 provided the following clause
that empowered the President to abolish the City Council and the Rural Board, with the powers of the local authorities assumed by the government. The City Council of the City of Singapore and the Singapore Rural Board were abolished in 1965. Ong Eng Guan was Singapore's first elected mayor in 1957 and continued to run the City Council from December 1957 till April 1959.
Elections
Prior to the 1957 City Council elections, franchise was limited and the council was party appointed. From 1949 to 1953 there were 6 seats on council:
* 1949 (April 2)
* 1949 (November 7)
* 1950 (December 2)
* 1951 (December 1)
* 1952 (December 6)
* 1953 (December 5)
After 1953 the yearly elections ended and the council term lasted 4 years.
The elections in 1957
1957 ( MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1957th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 957th year of the 2nd millennium, the 57th year of the 20th century, and the 8th year ...
and 1958
Events
January
* January 1 – The European Economic Community (EEC) comes into being.
* January 3 – The West Indies Federation is formed.
* January 4
** Edmund Hillary's Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition completes the third ...
eliminate all appointed seats on council. The number of seats increased to 32 for the last two elections before council was abolished in 1959.
See also
* Pekanbaru
*Elections in Singapore
There are currently two types of elections in Singapore: parliamentary and presidential elections. According to the Constitution of Singapore, general elections for Parliament must be conducted within three months of the dissolution of Parlia ...
*History of Singapore
The history of the modern state of Singapore dates back to its founding in the early nineteenth century; however, evidence suggests that a significant trading settlement existed on the Island of Singapore in the 14th century. The last ruler of ...
* City Hall (Singapore)
*Singapore Municipal Commission The Municipal Commission of Singapore was a body created in 1887 by the British colonial government to replace the Municipal Committee that was created in June 1848.
The role of the commission was to manage key services for the Town of Singapore, ...
References
>
History of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...
{{SEAsia-hist-stub