36
101
Orig. regd.in 1888576/43)
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S
SECRET
GOVERNMENT
EXTRACT FROM FAR EASTERN WEEKLY INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY
No. 31 for week ending 30.7.43.
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Broadcasts:
(a)
1.
In view of the increasing importance of such minerals as lead, tungsten, molybdenum and tin, for the East Asia defence industries, the Hongkong Government authori ties, since July last year, have been planning to re-open certain lead mines at Hongkong, and tungsten and molybdenum mines in the Kowloon area. Operations have already begun on these mines. Investigations into tin, manganese and iron mining in the same areas are being completed by the authorities.
It
(b) Lead and tin have been mined on the Leased Territories of Kowloon for quite 30 years, but up till 1936 only in small quantities. These mines were situated in the Castle Peak district and very near the Chinese border. has been known for a long time that there were deposits of iron ore in the new territories across the Bay from Taipo, but as there were no roads, and water was very shallow, the cost of transport of this ore was too great for development.
The Hongkong Mines Company Limited was started with a capital of $500,000 in 1936 to develop the already existing lead and tin mines and also the iron. At the same time, roads were built round the area where the iron deposits lay and a pier on the shore, so that junks could come alongside and be loaded. A sample of the iron ore was sent to England round about 1930 for testing and was found to be of very excellent quality.
There are no reports of tungsten or molybdenum being found here in British territory.
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