COPY
Enclosure 1 in Canton despatch to Hong Kong No. 65 of 14th August 1937. Minute.
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Whampoa Port Development.
About a week ago, Mr. Ernest P. Goodrich, the
American "Engineering Adviser to the Whampoa Port Development Administration", accompanied by Dr. S.K. Gee
(who Mr. Goodrich told me was "Chief Secretary" but whom the Mayor of Canton described as "Secretary" to the same Administration), called at my office and told me that his business was to seek international cooperation in connection with the development of Whampoa.
2.
Mr. Goodrich explained that he was satisfied that from an engineering standpoint a port could be built and kept open at Whampoa capable of taking boats of all tonnages which do not exceed 27 ft draught at normal high water. In other words, it was feasible (and it was intended) to dredge and keep open a channel to Whampoa, not only over the two bars (No.1 and 2 Shoals) but across the Lintin Flats of 24 ft low low water (1.l.w.o.s.t.).
3.
In this connection, two questions arose which might affect the Hong Kong Government. Across the Lintin Flats
there were two feasible channels of approach. The first was approximately the existing channel from Hong Kong to Whampoa. But in order to use this channel, ships would be virtually obliged to pass through Hong Kong waters, which in time would involve two points in regard to which he requested information, and he hoped cooperation, from the Hong Kong Government.
These points were:
(1) Would the Hong Kong Government be prepared to come to an
agreement with the Chinese Authorities either exempting vessels bound for Whampoa and merely passing through Hong Kong waters from tonnage and such dues, or make provision for some reciprocal arrangement about such dues? (2) In order to use the channel proposed for vessels of the
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