Riau Islands Province (Indonesian: Propinsi Kepulauan Riau (Kepri or Riau Kepulauan) is a province of Indonesia, consisting of Riau Archipelago, Natuna Islands, Anambas, and Lingga Islands. Originally part of the Riau Province, the Riau Islands were split off as a separate province in July 2004 with Tanjung Pinang as its capital. The archipelagos of Anambas and Natuna, located between mainland Malaysia and Borneo were attached to the new province.
Galang, is a island, 80 km2 located 350 m southeast of Batam, belonging to a group of three islands called Barelang (abbreviation of Batam-Rempang-Galang). A member of the Riau Archipelago, Indonesia, Galang is located just south of Batam and Rempang which themselves are just south of Singapore and Johor. The nearest city to Galang is Tanjung Pinang on Bintan, situated about half hour boat ride.
There was a UNHCR's main administration office to run Galang Refugee Camp during the period of 1979-1996 where many Vietnamese Boat People and asylum seekers were temporarily accommodated during the determination of their refugee status and their subsequent resettlement in the USA, Australia and other European Countries. Many Vietnamese from their new resettled countries have come back to visit Galang.
Today, Galang Island (Ex Sinam Camp) is managed by Batam Industrial Development Authority (BIDA). In 1992 according to Presidential Decree No. 28/1992, the expansion of BIDA Working Area include Rempang Island, Galang Island and small islands surrounded.
BIDA build 6 bridges which has been inaugurated on January 25, 1998. The bridges is to connect by land between Batam Island - Tonton Island - Nipah Island - Setoko Island - Rempang Island - Galang Island - Galang Baru (New Galang) Island in order to develop all these islands.
