CO129-562-20 Whompoa Port- development 19-2-1937 - 4-4-1938 — Page 51

S.C.M.Post of 8.1.37.

WHAMPOA PORT

Definite Plan Approved

And Funds Awaited

OFFICIAL RETURNS

Mr. Liu Wei-chi, the Construction Commissioner of the Kwangtung Government, arrived in Hongkong yesterday from Shanghai by the liner Conte Verde after having visited Marshal Chiang Kai-shek with re- gard to the construction and develop- ment works which are taking place and planned for Kwangtung.

Marshal Chiang gave instructions for future developments, said Mr. Liu, but these could not be divulged as yet. He himself would return to Nanking for the 3rd. Plenary Session of the Kuomintang in February to report further.

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A definite plan for the proposed 1 deep-sea port at Whampoa has been adopted by the Nanking Government, said Mr. Liu.

The Reconstruction Commissioner in an interview with an S. C. M. Post representative, added that they had consulted the Government with re- gard to the Whampoa project, and the plan which he was taking back to Kwangtung was one which had had the unanimous approval of all parties, including the Generalissimo, Marshal Chiang Kai-shek. The only thing holding up the scheme is lack of sufficient funds, but the Mayor of Canton, Mr. Tseng Yang-po, had been left behind to raise the very large sum that would be needed. A start construction of the new port on would be made immediately he came back with the funds.

Mr. Liu said that the first stage would be construction of wharves, this being followed by dredging of the channel.

The Cost

In another statement to an S. C. M. Post representative, just before he sailed on the s.s. Sai On last night, Mr. Liu said that the sum required for the first part of the harbour pro- ject was in the region of $10,000,000. This is to be provided by funds from the Kwangtung Provincial Treasury from the supplemented by a loan Ministry of Communications.

Facilities under the scheme were wall of quay to be provided by a sufficient extent to berth six or seven steamers at one time, the harbour being dredged to a sufficient depth for ocean going vessels of 8,000 tons and more.

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Concurrently

with the harbour construction, the extension railway line to connect Whampoa with the Hankow-Canton Railway would be undertaken, and there were to be godowns and warehouses in sufficient numbers for merchandise brought by both railways and steamers.

The Reconstruction Commissioner confirmed a previous report that three foreign concerns were bidding for the work, these being Dutch, British and Japanese respectively. He indicated that the Dutch Company who were specialists in this class of work, had the best chance of succeed- ing.

Amongst other officials accompany- ing the Reconstruction Commissioner were Generals Cheung Mui-san, Wong Yam-wang, Wong Yin-ching, Li Chan-kau and Chang Tat, return- ing from an inspection tour of Central China undertaken in the cause of national co-ordination of military defences. They report that they had also inspected the Suiyuan military situation, and would have made a more extensive tour of the war- troubled zone but for its being cut short by the Sianfu revolt. Others of the military contingent were re- turning on the Empress of Russia, which also arrived here yesterday.

The party with the Reconstruction Commissioner returned to Canton last night.

A CHANGE OF PLAN

Canton Extension Will Stop at Yu Chu

The Whampoa extension of the Canton-Hankow Railway which has been under construction since November last will terminate at Yu some Chu (outside Canton where forts

instead are situated)

of at Whampoa, says the Canton Daily Sun.

The removal of the Mohammedan Cemetery, which is necessary for the construction of the extension, has brought protests from the Moham- medans' Association and the Pacifica- tion Office of Kwangsi.

Mr. Liu Pao-shin, chief engineer for construction, is now proceeding to Nanking to consult the Railways Ministry on the removal of Mohammedans' Cemetery.

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