SHAW, Harold Anthony
The Public Service,
Accession Number 002004
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 10
Total Reels
- Irene Quah (Mrs)
Interviewer
- 04:47:04
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 10
Metadata
- 16 Mar 1998
Recording Date
- 00:30:24
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:08) Family and personal background.
(0:02:02) Conscripted into the military and posted to France in 1939.
(0:04:42) Became a Captain in 1941 and subsequently promoted to Major in 1944.
(0:11:24) Reason he joined the Colonial Civil Service.
(0:18:07) His impressions of Singapore upon his arrival in 1946 as part of the British Military Administration (BMA).
(0:21:51) Food shortages during the BMA period. The black market was quite rampant in Singapore.
(0:22:42) Still did the same job handling civilian supplies. The emergence of the Malayan Union.
Family and personal background. Posted to France in 1939. Experiences in Dunkirk and received commission in 1940. Promoted to Major in 1944. Applied to join Colonial Civil Service. Posted to mission in Melbourne before arriving in Singapore as part of the British Military Administration (BMA) in 1946. Conditions during BMA. Selected as a cadet in Colonial Administrative Service and posted to Malayan Civil Service (MCS). Recruitment criteria and administrative training received. Attended Devonshire Course II. Recollections of interview meeting with Wilfred Lawson Blythe.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 10
Metadata
- 16 Mar 1998
Recording Date
- 00:31:06
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:06) Posted to Malayan Civil Service (MCS) as a cadet.
(0:02:52) The recruitment criteria to become an MCS officer at that time.
(0:05:48) Was sent to attend the Devonshire course.
(0:09:17) His reasoning behind choosing Malay as the local language to learn.
(0:14:48) Opportunities for career progression within the MCS.
(0:20:51) Was posted to MCS from the Colonial Admin Service.
(0:23:08) Scheme of service in MCS back then. He served as Acting Financial Secretary. Explanation on leave entitlement.
(0:28:48) He worked in the Treasury department in Kuala Lumpur. Held the role of financial adviser to Pahang.
(0:29:48) Job responsibilities while in the Treasury included monitoring budgets, supervising loans and advances, and the rehabilitation of tin mines.
Prospects for career advancement in Malayan Civil Service (MCS). Scheme of service in MCS. Served as Acting Financial Secretary and leave entitlement. Served in Treasury in Kuala Lumpur and as Financial adviser to Pahang. Job responsibilities included monitoring budgets, supervising loans and advances; and rehabilitation of tin mines.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 10
Metadata
- 16 Mar 1998
Recording Date
- 00:30:49
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:06) Elaborated on how to get tin mines restarted in the post-war period.
(0:01:58) His opinion on the art of administration in the Civil Service.
(0:03:00) Relations and contact with the Sultan of Pahang.
(0:05:18) Recollections of the Malayan Emergency, including the tragic loss of his colleague's wife to communist terrorists.
(0:14:08) The necessity for a resettlement policy.
(0:20:13) Anecdote recounted by a Kelantan penghulu about his grandfather's encounter with Stamford Raffles.
(0:26:05) His working life in Singapore. Areas of purview as Principal Assistant Financial Secretary (PFS) and how expenditure was administered for joint departments.
(0:29:32) Working relations with colleagues in the Financial Secretary's Office. His opinion of Kenny Byrne.
Elaborated on how to get tin mines restarted in the post-war period. His opinion on the art of administration in the Civil Service. Relations and contact with the Sultan of Pahang. Recollections of the Malayan Emergency and how his colleague's wife was killed by communist terrorists. Why the need for a resettlement policy. Account from one Kelantan penghulu of his grandfather's meeting with Stamford Raffles. Areas of purview as Principal Assistant Financial Secretary and how expenditure was administered for joint departments. Working relations with colleagues in Financial Secretary's Office. His opinion of K M Byrne.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 10
Metadata
- 16 Mar 1998
Recording Date
- 00:31:04
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:06) Met Dr Goh Keng Swee while attending the Devonshire course. Impressions of Dr Goh.
(0:02:55) His other duties as Principal Assistant Financial Secretary.
(0:05:22) Helped to draw up scheme which enabled junior civil servants to buy houses.
(0:10:04) His views on the Maria Hertogh riot.
(0:15:52) Anecdote on the Maria Hertogh riot.
(0:23:18) Was appointed special constable during the curfew.
(0:25:21) Recollections of visits to Chinese and Malay villages between East Coast Road and Bedok.
Met Dr Goh Keng Swee while attending the Devonshire course. Impressions of Dr. Goh. Worked as Principal Assistant Financial Secretary. Helped to draw up scheme which enabled junior civil servants to buy houses. His views on Maria Hertogh riot. Appointed Special Constable. His recollections of visits to Chinese and Malay villages between East Coast Road and Bedok.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 10
Metadata
- 16 Mar 1998
Recording Date
- 00:30:07
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:01:15) What Malay constables did when he did not appear after some time. A platoon of Green Howards was sent to rescue him.
(0:02:34) How he stopped Malayan Civil Service (MCS) officers from despatching a telegram that expressed no confidence in the Governor and Colonial Secretary.
(0:10:43) Involved in policy formulation and consultation after becoming Deputy Financial Secretary in 1953.
(0:15:05) Also became an Official Member of the Legislative Council while serving as Acting Financial Secretary.
(0:16:03) His views on the political atmosphere in Singapore back then.
(0:19:31) His impressions of C C Tan, Lim Yew Hock and Tan Chin Tuan.
(0:27:16) Advised Governor Sir John Nicoll over Civil Service pay. Asked by the Governor to prepare a speech.
What Malay constables did when interviewee did not appear after some time. A platoon of Green Howards was sent to rescue interviewee. How interviewee stopped some Malayan Civil Service (MCS) officers from despatching a telegram that expressed no confidence in the Governor and Colonial Secretary. Involved in policy formulation and consultation upon becoming Deputy Financial Secretary in 1953. Also became Official Member of the Legislative Council as Acting Financial Secretary. Political atmosphere in Singapore and impressions of C C Tan, Lim Yew Hock and Tan Chin Tuan. Advised Governor Sir John Nicoll over Civil Service pay. Asked by Governor to prepare a speech.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 10
Metadata
- 16 Mar 1998
Recording Date
- 00:31:29
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:05) Showed the Governor's draft speech to W.C. Taylor. Feedback from Taylor on the speech.
(0:02:43) His impressions of Sir George Rendel.
(0:03:19) Reaction to the Labour Front-led Coalition government headed by David Marshall.
(0:09:03) Impressions of political parties that contested in the 1955 elections.
(0:10:33) His duties while serving as the Acting Financial Secretary.
(0:15:08) Circumstances that led to the clash between him and David Marshall regarding the Singapore Improvement Trust. The underlying reasons for the clash.
(0:22:28) He mentioned another incident that showed David Marshall at his worst.
(0:28:29) Governor Sir William Goode's relationship with David Marshall.
Showed draft speech for the Governor to W C Taylor. Comments from W C Taylor on the draft speech. Impressions of Sir George Rendel. Reaction towards Labour Front-led Coalition government. Impressions of political parties who participated in the 1955 elections. Duties as Acting Financial Secretary. How and why he clashed with David Marshall over the Singapore Improvement Trust. Governor Sir William Goode's relationship with David Marshall.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 10
Metadata
- 16 Mar 1998
Recording Date
- 00:29:49
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:07) His opinion of David Marshall.
(0:02:24) Involved in overseeing estimates and expenditures during the construction of Paya Lebar Airport.
(0:05:15) Job responsibilities as Clerk to the Council of Ministers and as the Governor's Secretary.
(0:08:20) Frequency of Council of Ministers meeting. Agenda for Council of Ministers' meetings. (0:09:50) Duties as Chief Secretary under the Rendel Constitution included coordinating meetings with Permanent Secretaries from different ministries.
(0:11:57) Issues discussed at the Council of Ministers meetings.
(0:17:54) Explained why Marshall did not have an office when he became Chief Minister.
(0:25:18) His memory of the Hock Lee Bus riots.
(0:28:01) Assessment of Marshall's performance at the first Merdeka Talks.
Personal opinion of David Marshall. Involved in overseeing estimates and expenditure in building Paya Lebar Airport. Job responsibilities as Clerk to the Council of Ministers and as the Governor's Secretary. Frequency of Council of Ministers meeting. Agenda for Council of Ministers' meetings. Duties as Chief Secretary under the Rendel Constitution. Co-ordinated meetings with the Permanent Secretaries of various ministries. Issues discussed. Explained why Marshall did not have an office when he became Chief Minister. Assessment of Marshall's performance at the first Merdeka Talks.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 10
Metadata
- 16 Mar 1998
Recording Date
- 00:30:35
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:21) Marshall's relationship with the Governor during the Council of Ministers' meetings.
(0:01:19) Lim Yew Hock's relationship with Governors Sir Robert Black and Sir William Goode. (0:02:10) Rumour of Lim's association with secret societies.
(0:04:57) Assessment of Lim Yew Hock as the Chief Minister in Singapore's history.
(0:05:20) Lim took a firm stand against left-wingers.
(0:08:31) How they prepared for possible riots and ready to arrest the so-called ring leaders.
(0:15:04) Recollections of encounters with S. Woodhull at the School of Oriental and African Studies.
(0:19:45) Responsible to the Governor and Council of Ministers on security matters.
(0:23:13) His opinion of Commissioner-General Sir Robert Scott.
(0:27:58) He kept his distance from the radical left-wing people.
Marshall's relationship with the Governor at the Council of Ministers' meetings. Lim Yew Hock's relationship with Governors Sir Robert Black and Sir William Goode. Rumour of Lim Yew Hock's association with secret societies. Assessment of Lim Yew Hock as Chief Minister in Singapore's history. Knew of Lim Yew Hock's concern for personal safety for taking a firm stand against left-wingers. Recollections of encounters with S Woodhull at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Responsible to the Governor and Council of Ministers on security matters. Opinion of Commissioner-General Sir Robert Scott.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 10
Metadata
- 16 Mar 1998
Recording Date
- 00:30:05
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:31) As the Governor’s Secretary, he was privy to constitutional discussions.
(0:02:07) View held by him that if Lim Yew Hock had pressed for full independence, he might have failed in the Merdeka Talks.
(0:03:34) Reasons why Singapore achieved independence later than the Federation.
(0:07:26) Brief comments on the sale of the Christmas Island in 1958.
(0:10:45) Chew Swee Kee scandal and alleged CIA involvement.
(0:13:19) Left Singapore in 1959 and hence did not attend the swearing-in of the People’s Action Party (PAP) government.
(0:17:07) Impact of Malayanisation on his career and the Malayan Civil Service (MCS).
(0:21:18) Despite limited vacancies, he had numerous job offers.
(0:25:43) He mentioned the reason for his resignation from the position of deputy commissioner.
(0:27:48) His reaction towards expatriate allowance and how he made use of his allowance intelligently.
Privy to constitutional discussion as Governor's Secretary. View held by interviewee that if Lim Yew Hock had pressed for full independence, he might have failed in the Merdeka Talks. Reasons why Singapore achieved independence later than the Federation. Brief comments on the sale of the Christmas Island in 1958. Left Singapore in 1959. Impact of Malayanisation on interviewee's career and the Malayan Civil Service (MCS). Job offers and reason for his resignation. Reaction towards expatriate allowance. How interviewee used his expatriate allowance.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 10
Metadata
- 16 Mar 1998
Recording Date
- 00:11:36
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:12) Further comments on the expatriate allowance.
(0:01:29) Suggestion made by him regarding expatriate allowance which was turned down.
(0:04:23) His social life in Singapore. The clubs that he joined.
(0:09:18) His interaction with locals. Did not have much time for social activities due to his work.
Further comments on the expatriate allowance. Suggestion made by interviewee regarding expatriate allowance which was turned down. Interviewee's social life in Singapore. Clubs joined. Interaction with locals.
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