1.
MLS AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS IN BOAT (2 SHOTS)
6 1/2 ft

2.
MS. TED COP (BELGIUM) LEFT, D.H. STAPLEDON (AUSTRALIAN) RIGHT, PAN TO RIVER BANK.
11 1/2 ft

3.
MS. THAI BOATMAN.
13 1/2 ft

4.
LS. TRACK SHOT - THAILAND BORDER.
17 1/2 ft

5.
LS. DRILL IN RIVER (2 SHOTS)
25 ft

6.
MLS. RAY CRECH (AUSTRALIAN) ADJUST DRILL.
28 1/2 ft

7.
MLS. WORKER ON STRUCTURE.
31 ft

8.
CU. RAY CRECH.
33 1/2 ft

9.
CU. DRILL AT WORK.
36 ft

10.
MLS. WORKERS ON ANOTHER DRILL (2 SHOTS)
47 1/2 ft

11.
MS. PULLEY
50 ft

12.
MS. WORKERS AND DRILL.
53 ft

13.
CU. TED COP TAKING OUT ROCK SAMPLE FROM DRILL
58 1/2 ft

14.
MS. JOE CRECH (SHIRTLESS) AUSTRALIAN AND STAPLEDON EXAMINING SAMPLE PAN TO SAMPLE.
60 ft



Initials CR/S/MK/GAP/MK



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A TEAM OF AUSTRALIA HYDRO-ELECTRIC ENGINEERS, ON LOAN TO THE COLOMBO PLAN, IS WORKING FULL-SWING AHEAD ON THE MEKONG RIVER PROJECT.

THE PROJECT WAS INAUGURATED BY THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION IN ASIA AND THE FAR EAST, FOLLOWING A SERIES OF MEETING HELD IN ROTATIONS IN BANGKOK, CAMBODIA, PHNOM PENH AND SAIGON - CAPITALS OF THE FOUR COUNTRIES WHICH ARE TO BENEFIT BY THE MEKONG SCHEME.

THE ENGINEERS ARE DOING SURVEY WORK FOR HYDRO-ELECTRIC AND IRRIGATION PROJECT WHICH WERE DISCUSSED IN VIENTIANE, THE CAPITAL OF LAOS IN 1957.

THE TWO PROJECTS FOR WHICH CONSTRUCTION WILL SHORTLY BEGIN ARE NAM PHONG PROJECT IN NORTH-EAST THAILAND AND NAN NGUM PROJECT IN LAOS.BOTH ARE HYDRO-ELECTRIC PROJECTS.

THE ENGINEERS HOPE TO COMPLETE THEIR SURVEY WORK BEFORE THE MONSOON SEASON BEGINS IN TWO OR THREE MONTHS TIME.FAILING TO DO SO, THEY WOULD RETURN TO CONTINUE IN NOVEMBER THIS YEAR.

FIFTEEN COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD AND UNITED NATIONS SPECIALISED AGENCIES ARE CO-OPERATING IN THE MEKONG SCHEME WHICH IS TO BENEFIT SOME 17 MILLION PEOPLE IN FOUR COUNTRIES IN THE MEKONG BASIN.