Exhibition shines light on how Chinese migrants became Singapore citizens in 1957

A roving exhibition highlighting how Singapore introduced citizenship to many foreign-born Chinese residents after World War II was launched on April 7.

- Wong Pei Ting

Its organiser is the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI), which spearheaded a movement from 1947 to 1957 that led to the passing of the Singapore Citizenship Ordinance.

The ordinance established clear criteria that allowed long-term residents—those who had lived here for at least eight years—to be recognised as a Singapore citizen. The legal status granted them voting rights and legislative representation.

With the ordinance, a nationwide drive called Operation Franchise was rolled out on Nov 1, 1957, culminating in the granting of citizenship to over 220,000 people within three months.

Titled Sojourners To Citizens: The Citizenship Journey, the exhibition—which will feature artefacts and interactive presentations showcasing that period—will travel to schools, libraries, community centres and clan associations over the next year.

Zhangde Primary School and Nanyang Girls' High School are among the schools that will host the exhibition in the following months.

Speaking at the exhibition's launch held at the SCCCI's building in Hill Street, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said anxious crowds, dressed in their best attire and holding citizenship application forms, waited outside that very building when Operation Franchise began.