It protected English citizens' individual freedoms.
Answer:
Singapore is one of the best natural harbors in the world, which has contributed to its development as one of the wealthiest states in the world.
As the statement in the question explains, Singapore is in the middle of worldwide shipping routes, not only those of neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia, but also routes that connect Asia with Africa and the Americas.
In fact, the port of Singapore is the second busiest port in the world, after the port of Shanghai.
