\n<\/p>\n
In the 1950s, 38 Oxley Road was where various individuals came to seek Mr Lee’s help and legal advice, \u201coften in relation to political action\u201d.<\/p>\n
These consultations addressed major events such as the British colonial administration’s arrest of journalist Abdul Samad Ismail in 1951, the 1952 Singapore Post and Telegraph Uniformed Staff Union strike, and the 1954 National Service riots.<\/p>\n
Some of those who met Mr Lee, including trade unionists, later became his key collaborators and important figures in Singapore’s independence movement, the statement said.<\/p>\n
From early 1953, the basement dining room hosted regular secret discussions among Mr Lee, Dr Goh Keng Swee, Dr Toh Chin Chye, Mr S Rajaratnam and Mr K M Byrne on forming a new political party.<\/p>\n
The group gradually expanded to include other figures who would become key leaders of Singapore’s independence movement, such as Mr Abdul Samad lsmail, Mr Devan Nair, Mr Lim Chin Siong and Mr Fong Swee Suan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe site witnessed these discussions involving key founding leaders of independent Singapore, that shaped the course of Singapore’s national history,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was through these meetings that the founding leaders formulated their political vision, plans and values, and where they organised the transition towards self-government.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n