Unlike recent Archdeacons of Salop, Mr Thomas will not take on the role of Vicar of Tong, although he will live at Tong Vicarage.

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He was greeted at the airport by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, and later played rounds with the PM, Singapore cabinet ministers and President Ong Teng Cheong.

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"When Putin came here to open a Pacific Rim exhibition, he was surprised to see Chinese people selling things in the markets, " says Wei Dai Tong, the Vladivostok merchant.

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