LAPPA
Lappa is the large, hilly island which shelters the inner harbour of Macao on its western side. It is also called by the Chinese Kung Pak of Tui Lien Shan, and by the Portuguese Patera Island. The island itself, which is within the jurisdiction of the Chungshan Magistrate (at Shekki) possesses no features of interest; but it has given its name to the chain of stations under the control of the Chinese Maritime Customs which were established around Macao, by agreement with the Portuguese Government, in the year 1887. Of these stations the two principal-from a revenue collecting point of view are at Malowchow, an islet close to Lappa and Chienshan, north of Green Island.
The bus road between Macao and Shekki-the centre of the Chungshan District-completed in the year 1932 is kept in good condition and a regular bus service is maintained by the Ki Kwan Bus Company. Connection may be made at Shekki for continuing the journey further inland by motor boats.
The construction by the Ki Kwan Highway Company of the main road from the Macao Barrier Gate to Shekki, a flourishing business centre of the Chung Shan District was completed during the beginning of the year 1932. Through traffic was officially inaugurated, and excellent services have been maintained.
TRADE IN 1937 !
The political situation and local climatic conditions further weakened the pur- chasing power of the people and hampered both the import and export trade of the Lappa district. Excessive rain in the middle of the year, followed by the inundation of many of the districts bordering the waterways, the severe typhoon of the 2nd September, and the drought towards the end of the year also seriously affected the agricultural population. The hostile Japanese blockade of the China coast, the sinking and burning of Chinese fishing junks, and the closing of all the entrances at the mouth of the Pearl River, later, the capture by the Japanese of some of the islands adjacent to the Chungshan district dislocated the business of both fishing and trading junks. The total value of the foreign import trade was $4 million as compared with $3.7 million in 1936, $7.7 million in 1935, and $18.3 million for the year 1933. The value of direct export of Chinese produce was higher, being $3.7 million as against $2.9 million during 1936. Most of the staple imports of the Lappa district are junk- borne. The interception of sea-going junks by Japanese wareships killed most of the trade in the latter part of the year, while during the first half of the year many decreases in the importation of bulk cargo were recorded due to general trade depression. Of the imports showing an increase were wheat flour (2,655 to 8,546 quintals), cuttle-fish (7,641 to 24,336 kilogrammes ), bran (2,862 to 15,528 quintals), kerosene oil (332,796 to 4,258,473 litres), gasolene (307,087 to 775,607 litres), liquid fuel (617 to 1,650 metric tons), and lubricating oil (168,072 to 408,137 litres). The decreases were in building materials: iron angles from 2,795 to 1,899 quintals, iron bars from 38,298 to 27,220 quintals, and hardwood, ordinary, rough hewn, from 6,099 to 3,419 cubic metres. Coal also declined from 3,882 to 2,163 metric tons owing to shortage of supplies and enhanced cost. Importation of salt fish amounted to 76,533 quintals as against 86,658 quintals. Agricultural exports from the district fell short owing to poor weather conditions and the effects of the typhoons. Considerable quantities, nevertheless, were exported owing to larger demand in Hongkong and Macao conse- quent on the influx of refugees. Noticeable increases were in live poultry (340,697 to 597,566 head), fresh oranges (6,929 to 10,228 quintals), fresh fish (9,220 to 1,996 quintals), fresh fruits, not otherwise recorded (40.158 to 41,622 quintals), and vege- tables (78,606 to 116,621 quintals), charcoal and firewood also increased from 29 and 69, 540 quintals to 12,792 and 113,201 quintals respectively. There was a decline in industrial articles, toothbrushes, for example, decreasing in value from $94,025 to $72,927. In the beginning of the year the price of rice rose to new levels, due in part to difficulty in transportation from the Yangtze regions owing to low water and, in part, to hoarding in anticipation of a shortage. To relieve the situation, the import of 1 million picul of rice and paddy at half duty rates was authorised by the Government. From February to March 9,117 quintals of rice and 15,484 quintals of
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