Cook goes on with S'pore visit

Cook goes on with S'pore visit

SINGAPORE (AFP): British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook
proceeded with a two-day visit as scheduled to Singapore, the
last leg of his four-nation Asian tour, as Britain mourned the
death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

A Singapore ministry of foreign affairs spokesman said Cook's
visit here "is proceeding as scheduled" despite the death of
Diana in a car crash in Paris.

A British High Commission spokesman said "in view of the
prevailing circumstances", Cook had canceled a planned cruise
along Singapore's harbor organized by the Port Authority of
Singapore as part of the scheduled program.

Cook declined further comment on Diana's death on arrival from
Manila where he gave the first British official reaction to the
death.

"I've heard nothing (from London) since I took off from the
Philippines," a grim Cook told reporters at Singapore's Changi
airport.

He said he would host a news conference this afternoon at the
end of his visit to this city state.

Cook held talks with senior minister Lee Kuan Yew yesterday
and was scheduled to meet separately Monday with Prime Minister
Goh Chok Tong, deputy premier Lee Hsien Loong and Foreign
Minister Shanmugam Jayakumar.

Cook has already visited Malaysia, Indonesia and the
Philippines as part of the six-day Southeast Asian tour, the most
extensive of the region by a British foreign minister since 1988.
Apart from bilateral issues, the trip was also to lay the
foundations for an Asia/Europe Summit due to be held under the
London presidency of the European Union in early 1998.

Cook said at the Manila military airport before his departure
that Diana's death was an "immense loss".

"I am greatly shocked by this news. Our first thoughts must be
with her children and family at this time of immense loss to
them," he said.

"I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the
princess on her international charity work."