CO129-553-5 Japanese activities in Macao and Canton 31-1-1935 - 22-11-1935 — Page 126

II.

Nate prepared in the Colenial Office.

The Japanese have made an offer to the Government

of the Portuguese Colony or Macac for a contract -

(1) to build a waterworks at a cost of $1,500,000;

(2) to purchase the whole site of a new inland

port for several million dollars cash);

(3) to establish and operate a line of 2,000 tun

cargo steamers to run between Hong Kong

Canton - Timor;

(4) to pay cff existing debts of established

industries.

In the opinion of the Macao Government all this

would mear. prosperity for that Colony, but they are

afraid that it would also mean virtual Japanese control

of the territory.

Macao, it is claimed, has excellent aerodrome

sites and a new harbour which could give a depth of

20 feet after short period of dredging. Leep water

facilities for shipping already exist at Colowan

Island, which is a small island near Macao and

included in that Tortuguese Colony.

For many years the Macao slectric Light Works has been controlled by a British Managing Director (Mr. Gallion) who has for years past been the chief British

resident in that Colony. In January he went to the

Consul General at Canton at the urgent request of the

* Some 40 miles from Hong Kong and 80 from Canton

off the mouth of the Canton River.

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