SINGAPORE AIRPORT; PLANE TAXIING IN; DEFENCE MINISTER LIM AND BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE WELCOMING MR THOMSON; AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE BY THOMSON; CAR AWAY WITH MR THOMSON.




Initials JP/V/MR/SGM



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Background: THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY, MR GEORGE THOMSON, FLEW INTO SINGAPORE YESTERDAY (MONDAY) FROM THE MALAYSIAN CAPITAL, KUALA LUMPUR, FOR TALKS WITH SINGAPORE LEADERS ON THE ACCELERATED WITHDRAWAL OF BRITISH FORCES.

MR THOMSON WAS MET AT THE AIRPORT BY SINGAPORE'S DEFENCE MINISTER, MR LIM KIM SAN, AND BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION OFFICIALS.

SPEAKING TO NEWSMEN, MR THOMSON STRESSED THAT BRITAIN WAS NOT TURNING ITS BACK ON ITS FRIENDS AND ALLIES IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA.

HE SAID THAT BRITAIN WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP ITS FRIENDS IN ASIA ONLY ON THE BASIS OF A STRONG BRITISH ECONOMY.

THE MAIN TALKS WITH SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT LEADERS BEGAN TODAY. AFTER THE TALKS, MR THOMSON LEAVES FOR NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA TO EXPLAIN BRITAIN'S PULL OUT PLAN TO THE RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENT. HE'LL REPORT BACK TO HIS CABINET COLLEAGUES IN LONDON NEXT WEEK.

FOLLOWING THE DEVALUATION OF STERLING LAST NOVEMBER, BRITAIN HAS BEEN FORCED TO REVIEW ITS OVERSEAS DEFENCE COMMITMENTS -- WHICH INCLUDES THE GBP84-MILLION ANNUAL COST IN FOREIGN CURRENCY OF THE FORCES IN MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE, OF THIS, GBP55-MILLION IS SPENT ON MAINTAINING THE SINGAPORE BASE.

MEANWHILE, SINGAPORE'S PRIME MINISTER, MR LEE KUAN YEW,WAS REPORTED TO HAVE SAID THAT IF BRITAIN WITHDRAW ITS FORCES FROM THE ISLAND BY 1971 INSTEAD OF THE ORIGINALLY PLANNED DATE OF 1975, SINGAPORE WOULD BE FORCED TO WITHDRAW ITS STERLING RESERVES OF AROUND GBP200 MILLION.