City Day, 22 September 1951, the Town of Singapore was officially made a City of the British Commonwealth, by an official proclamation of a Royal Charter by King George VI. Singapore City Day festivities began with an official parade, in the presence of 50,000 of her citizens at the Padang.
The official ceremony
The City Day celebrations began with thousands of people arriving early at dawn, participants and citizens of all races, thronged the Padang and adjacent streets to watch the historic ceremony on the Municipal steps. Formalities began with the arrival of official VIPs. First to arrive was Sir Charles Murray-Aynsley, Chief Justice of Singapore, wearing judicial red and ermine; immediately following, the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya Sir Henry Gurney; next, the Commissioner-General Malcolm MacDonald, both in colonial service whites, with plumed hats. They were accorded a Royal salute from the "guard of honour" of detachments from Singapore's Volunteer Corps, the Malayan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force, and the Police Force with the Police Band performing. That day coincidentally being Children's Day, representatives of the Colony's Youth Movements flanked the steps during the ceremony.
Shortly after, Governor Sir Franklin Charles Gimson arrived with 2 A.D.C.s, wearing red plumed hats. Sir Franklin took the Royal salute upon arrival, and, as he completed his ceremonial inspection of the "guard of honour" accompanied by Major Eric Fam of the Singapore Volunteer Reserve, the whine of tearing jet-aircraft zoomed overhead, followed by fighter bombers in a low flypast, the Royal Air Force salute to Singapore!
On the Grandstand Sir Franklin Gimson sat between Malcom MacDonald and T. P. F. McNiece, Sir Charles Murray-Aynsley and Sir Henry Gurney sat on the side of them. Behind in a semi-circle row were the Municipal Commisioners, and behind them the heads of Municipal departments. In the guests' enclosure sat Service Chiefs and dignitaries. The reserved enclosure had notables of Singapore, officials and executives and their wives, leaders of all the city's communities. Children's Day uniformed youngsters were in the front seats and other places of honour to witness the simple but solemn ceremony.
The historic ceremony began when the Governor read a message from the ailing King George VI, which included his "best wishes to the City Council...and to the citizens of Singapore on this notable occasion". This was followed by Sir Franklin's speech on Singapore's historic past, and its aspirations of the future, to which he ended with "I am sure we can all invoke with virile and active confidence in the future, its proud motto, all the prouder today, "Majulah Singapura"' (meaning 'Let Singapore Flourish!')".
Then the archaic wording of the Royal Charter from His Majesty the King, was read to the people by the Chief Justice Sir Charles Murray-Aynsley. Then an A.D.C. handed the Charter to the Governor Sir Franklin Gimson, who said, "On behalf of the King I present to you the Royal Charter and Seal, conferring City Status on the Town of Singapore" and then presented a shallow red box which contained the Royal Charter and Seal, to the President of the Municipality, T. P. F. McNiece. From that moment the call of trumpets heralded the proclamation as McNiece, dressed in his Malayan Civil Service uniform, became Lord President of the City Council, and the Municipal Commissioners of Singapore became the City Council of Singapore.
The ceremony continued with Mr. McNiece's speech which was warmly applauded. Then the French Consul-General A. Guibaut, in his French Civil Service uniform, delivered a message of congratulations on behalf of the foreign communities. The ceremony ended with Council Secretary, T. M. Stevens reading messages of greetings from all over the world.
Festive attractions
The event at the flag-bedecked Padang, had all the trimmings of pomp, pageantry and Royal splendour. The city was dressed for the occasion, especially for the night with thousands of light bulbs stringing buildings and illuminating structures.
Many activities were lined up to take place around the island "on the hour" throughout the day. Big attractions were lined up for the evening.
The city was in traffic chaos and jammed everywhere. Thousands of men, women and children in a festive mood, jammed and crammed the streets or seafronts to catch the best angle and action of the three big shows, the Sea Dragon, the fireworks display, and the City Day Procession. At least 1,500 policemen were assigned to control the overwhelming numbers.
The Chinese community ended the day's celebrations with their three mile Chingay-like City Day Procession surpassing any within living memory. Sponsored by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, 10,000 Chinese men, women and children from more than 230 trades, guilds, associations, societies, clubs, schools, presented a five hour show that hundreds of thousand spectators will never forget. Crowds, masses swarmed around Collyer Quay to catch the parade as well as the Sea Dragon. The night parade of about 300 floats, decorated lorries and buses were assembled all the way up to Keppel Harbour in readiness for the start. After a 15 minute delay caused by traffic jams, the procession kicked off at 7.45 pm, at the starting point on Raffles Quay. A dozen colourfully dressed Chinese maidens carrying lanterns led the procession through thick and uncontrollable crowds along the route. When the procession reached the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles, thundering explosions of Chinese crackers ignited by candles, launched the 60 ft long Dragon Dance. With eyes spouting flames, the flowing luminous body danced and pranced to the beat of Chinese drums, gongs and cymbals, before the statue. Victoria Memorial Hall was the designated performing platform or staging area for the acts. Commercial organizations and other communities like the Malays and Indians also participated with illuminated and decorated floats that played taped music or had live-band music! The Land Dragon procession took top prize for the Best Exhibit, the Lion with the Royal Crown built by the Teochew Huay Kuan (clan association) of Singapore, was awarded second prize, and third prize to the Model of the Town Hall.
At 7 pm, on the sea was the grandest spectacle, the Lighter Owners Association's $16,000 400 ft.Water Dragon that breathed out balls of fire. It had legs that could move, and it was studded with 7,000 lights. Leaving the South Pier, it floated leisurely, riding the waves, along all the popular waterfronts all the way till Katong Beach and back. Nose to tail the dragon's length covered six lighters. Chinese music blending flutes and cymbals emanated from it, with the music audible from the shore.
At 8.30 pm the Royal Navy's treat of a brilliant fireworks display over the harbour for half an hour, came from the Jasur, the Menad, and the Lioness, and frigate H.M.S. Morecambe Bay. At 9 pm, the R. A. F. gave an aerial fireworks display, and dropped flares which turned night into day. At the same time, an official banquet was held at the Victoria Memorial Hall with more than 300 invited guests including the representatives of the junior clerical staff, and labourers, and, they feasted on grapefruit, cream of tomato soup, fried fillet of fish and mayonnaise sauce, roast turkey, bread sauce, rolls, butter and coffee.
City Day brought together 300,000 people or more, the largest crowd the city had ever seen, and for an event they will long remember.
Transcription/text of Royal City Day Charter by King George VI of Great Britain
George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the seas, King, Defender of the Faith; to all to whom these Presents shall come, Greetings.
Whereas the inhabitants of the Town of Singapore in Our Colony of Singapore are a body corporate by the name and style of the Municipal Commissioners of Singapore; and Whereas We, for divers good causes and considerations Us thereunto moving, are graciously pleased to raise the said Town to the rank of a City.
Now, therefore, know ye that We of Our especial grace and favour and mere motion do by this, Our Royal Charter will, ordain, constitute, declare and appoint that Our said Town shall on the twenty-second day of September in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifty-one and forever thereafter be a City, and shall be called and styled THE CITY OF SINGAPORE, instead of the Town of Singapore, and shall thenceforth have all such rank, liberties, privileges and immunities as are incident to a City.
And we do further declare and direct that the Municipal Commissioners of Singapore shall thenceforth be one body corporate by the name and style of THE CITY COUNCIL OF SINGAPORE, with all such powers and privileges as thet would have had as the Municipal Commissioners of Singapore and as if they had been incorporated by the name of the City Council of Singapore.
And further know ye that We, trusting in the discretion, fidelity and care of Our trusty and well beloved Sir Franklin Charles Gimson, Knight Commander of Our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Our Colony of Singapore, do give and grant by the tenor of these Presents unto the said Sir Franklin Charles Gimson full power in Our name to declare and make known Our Pleasure herein.
In Witness whereof We have caused these Our letters to be made Patent Witness Ourself at Westminster, the twenty-forth day of July in the fifteenth year of Our Reign.
By warrant under the King's Sign Manual
Napier
Author
Vernon Cornelius-Takahama, 2000
References
Colony of Singapore annual report (p. 8). (1951). Singapore: Government Printing Office.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN)
Majulah Singapura [Microfilm: NL 2427]. (1951 September 23). The Straits Times, p. 1.
The King sends congratulations [Microfilm: NL 2626]. (1951, September 22). The Straits Times, pp. 1, 6-9.
Singapore is now a city [Microfilm: 3658]. (1951, September 22). The Singapore Free Press, pp. 1, 5, 8
The information in this article is valid as at 2001 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
