After USA dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th and 9th August 1945, the Japanese surrendered and the British returned to Singapore.

When the British returned to Singapore, the British Military Administration ( BMA ) governed Singapore. BMA tried to resolve societal problems but there was a lack of funds and resources. BMA cleared SG Harbor so that essential items could be brought into Singapore. Food rationing still had to continue. Schools were also reopened and by March 1946, 62 000 children were back in school.

BMA was also referred to as the Black Market Administration as some BMA officials took part in Black Market Activities.

The locals also had demands after the British returned.

Here are some of the demands :

• Demand for Citizenship
  The Chinse chamber of Commerce wanted the British to grant citizenship to all China-born immigrants over the age of 21 years of age.
• Demand for Better Treatment of Local Civil Servants
  In 1948, the British started recruiting more locals into civil service as many of the British who had been interned during the Japanese Occupation were sent back to Britain to recover. British official continued enjoying better pay and in 1952, BMA decided to pay special family allowances to British Officials.
• Demand for Political Involvement
  After the Japanese occupation, political groups emerged however, many were still concerned with rebuilding their lives compared to politics