- Title: SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT TAKES OVER BRITISH NAVAL DOCKYARD
- Date: 1st December 1968
- Summary: NAVAL BASE GATE; DOCKYARD; WORKMEN ON REPAIRS; LIBRARY FILM OPENING CEREMONY; TROOPSHIPS; WORKERS IN MACHINE SHOPS. Initials PK/VS/VISLIB/JF/SS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 16th December 1968 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SINGAPORE
- Country: Singapore
- Reuters ID: LVA5U3HXDT5INU5ALFRUJAGX7F8Z
- Story Text: AFTER 30 YEARS AS THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE ROYAL NAVAL'S FAR EAST COMMAND, THE BRITISH NAVAL BASE AT SINGAPORE IS BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT. IN A SPECIAL CEREMONY TODAY, (SUNDAY) THE FIRST PART OF THE HUGE COMPLEX, THE NAVAL DOCKYARD, WAS HANDED OVER. THE BASE ITSELF WILL REMAIN IN THE HANDS OF THE BRITISH UNTIL THE PHASED WITHDRAWAL OF THE FAR-EAST FLEET IS COMPLETED PROBABLY LATE IN 1971.
THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT WILL, IN TURN, HAND OVER THE DOCKYARD TO THE BRITISH SHIP-BUILDING FIRM OF SWAN HUNTER GROUP, TO BE CONVERTED FOR COMMERCIAL USE. IT'S PLANNED TO EXTEND THE YARD TO TAKE SUPER TANKERS OF 200-THOUSAND TONS, AND MORE.
THE KING GEORGE THE SIXTH DOCK, WHICH IS PART OF THE COMPLEX, IS REPUTED TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE AT PRESENT ANY WARSHIP AFLOAT EXCEPT THE LARGEST AIRCRAFT CARRIERS. IT WAS COMPLETED IN 1978 AND WAS OPENED IN A SPECTACULAR CEREMONY THE SAME YEAR.
IT WAS AT THE NAVAL BASE THAT THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TROOPS LANDED WHEN JAPANESE FORCES ENTERED SOUTH-EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
WITHIN THE VASE ITSELF, WHICH COVERS 2,500 ACRES, LIVE 8,500 LOCAL CIVILIANS EMPLOYED BY THE NAVY. ONE THIRD OF THEM WORK IN THE DOCKYARD.
CONVERSION OF THE BASE INTO A MAJOR SHIP REPAIR CENTRE, AUXILIARY PORT AND INDUSTRIAL PARK IS EXPECTED TO GREATLY REDUCE THE PROBLEM OF FINDING WORK FOR THESE WORKERS AFTER 1971.
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