Catalogue description Commissioner General for the United Kingdom in South East Asia, and United Kingdom Commissioner for Singapore and South East Asia: Registered Files

The post of Commissioner-General for the United Kingdom in South East Asia was created on 1 May 1948, in succession to that of Governor-General of Malaya, Singapore and British Borneo. The Commissioner-General continued to exercise the functions of the former Governor-General in promoting the co-ordination of policy and administration between the governments of territories in South East Asia under British control, in addition to those of the former Special Commissioner in South East Asia, a diplomatic post established in 1946 primarily for co-ordinating measures to meet the then critical supply situation in the region, especially in regard to food supplies.

The Commissioner-General, based in Singapore, was required to communicate with the Secretary of State for the Colonies on matters previously dealt with by the Governor-General, and with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on matters formerly the concern of the Special Commissioner.

The first Commissioner-General was Mr Malcolm John MacDonald, previously Governor-General, who held that position until 1955. Mr MacDonald was succeeded by Sir Robert Heatlie Scott. In 1959, following the acquisition of internal self-government by Singapore, the responsibilities of the UK Commissioner-General for South East Asia were merged with those of the United Kingdom Commissioner for Singapore in a joint Office, that of the United Kingdom Commissioner for Singapore and South East Asia. This post was held by Lord Selkirk from 1959 until the formation of Malaysia in September 1963, at which date the Office was terminated.