[1] In 1956, after Lim Yew Hock replaced David Marshall as Chief Minister of Singapore,[2][3] he began to take tough measures to suppress communist activities with the support of the British Governor and Commissioner of Police.

[4] In September, Lim deregistered and banned three organizations supposedly pro-communist: the Singapore Women’s Association (SWA) and the Chinese Musical Gong Society.

[4][5] The riots came about when Lim Yew Hock announced that the Singapore Chinese Middle School Students' Union would be closed due to its communist activities.

[1] As the deadline approached, riots started at the Chung Cheng High School and spread to other parts of the island.

On 26 October 1956, the police entered the schools and cleared the students using tear gas.