The `Straits Settlements of Malacca, Singapore and Penang’ was created as an administrative unit by the Honourable East India Company in 1826. The rationale was to have string of bases along the Malacca Straits to protect the lucrative trade route of China, and combat local piracy. Penang was briefly the `capital’ of these Settlement, while the administration of the Settlements was direction from India.

`Happy Hour’ sculpture is on Transfer Road, so named for the transfer of the administration of the Straits Settlements from India, to the Colonial Office in Singapore in 1867. This change in overseers resulted in a more efficient administration and an era increased prosperity for all the Settlement.