CO129-553-5 Japanese activities in Macao and Canton 31-1-1935 - 22-11-1935 — Page 71

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1.

31.

MEMORANDUM ON THE JAPANESE PROPOSAL IN MACAO.

The proposals transmitted through shinga Wada to the

Governor of Macao are

2.

(a) Definite offer to take over present Waterworks and

complete a new Vaterworks scheme, the total cost of

which is estimated at g1,500,000.

(b) The establishment of various industries - an alcohol

plant and sugar refinery have been specifically

mentioned.

(c) The establishment of new lines of steamers from Kacao

to Hongkong, Canton, Timor and Portuguese India.

It is difficult to see how control of the Vaterworks

alone could benefit the Japanese to any great extent but it

The seeus plain that this offer has ulterior motives.

construction of the new faterworks would give every excuse

for the presence of Japanese engineers etc. and it seems most

likely that the development of the port of Macao including

the establishment of some industries and shipping lines

would follow.

3.

The new harbour at Maoao could at present take

ships up to 20 ft. draft and could easily be dredged to

take ships of deeper draft, 1.e. up to about 5,000 tons.

The entrance channel would also have to be dredged.

A

rough estimate is that the continuous employment of a dredger for 3 months would open the port to ships of about 5,000 tons. The avera,e China Coast vessel is about

2,500 tons.

Prom this it is to be inferred that the port might be developed for coastal traffic and traffic to and from Formosa, which island is rapidly being developed, and I

I Delieve this to be a partial object of the scheme.

have