1.
LS Street in Nong Khay.
0.05

2.
MS Sign - Immigration, Nong Khay.
0.08

3.
PAN SHOT OF Customs building.
0.13

4.
LS People wait for ferry - Laotian side of Mekong in b/g.
0.17

5.
Ferry tilt down to boats.
0.24

6.
MS Passengers going down to ferry boat.
0.29

7.
MS Group of people boarding ferry.
0.32

8.
MS Man carrying goods to boat.
0.39

9.
MS Woman getting into boat.
0.43

10.
MS Ditto.
0.47

11.
MLS Boat leaving Nong Khay.
0.51

12.
MLS Boat with outboard motor on Mekong River.
0.56

13.
MLS Ferry boat arrives at Laotian side.
1.01

14.
Passengers "disembarking" the hard way.
1.09

15.
Another ferry boat arriving on Laotian side.
1.16

16.
MS Goods carried away.
1.17

17.
MLS Passengers leaving riverbank
1.21

18.
MLS Ditto.
1.26

19.
MS Ditto.
1.32

20.
MS Soldier on guard.
1.34

21.
Goods loaded into car.
1.37

22.
MS Market place on Laotian side.
1.41



Initials KJ/V/AHS/PB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Passenger and goods traffic across the Mekong River between Thailand and Laos was filmed Jan 8-10, at the small Thai town of Nong Khay.

Nong Khay is one of the Thai border towns acting as clearing houses for supplies to Laos as the Siamese trade embargo imposed last year is being relaxed. An erratic ferry service shuttles between the frontier posts on either side of the Mekong. The armed frontier guards look on with little interest since most of the people passing through here are local inhabitants who do not need permits for short visits across the border.

Goods carried in this way are a welcome addition to Laotian trade which is largely dependent on Thailand, despite American aid flown into Vientiane and Luang Prabang. There is also a steady stream of Russian supplies for the benefit of the Pathet Lao rebels and the forces of left-wing paratroop captain Kong Lae, who are still engaged in jungle fights with Government troops.