Oldal 2 [2]
OCR
- page two In the opinion of the ? rtuguese authorities, the reasor. of the recent incidents is obfious ? the Chinese are very much perturbed by the blockade imposed by the P. rtuguese authorities on the furnishing of strategic materials to China. Before the embargo was declared, the Colony had a flourishing transit bussiness of rubverg, steel, petrol, high osteno gasoline and chemical products. This was stopped by the P rtuguese authorities in a much more efficient manner thah it was done by the Hong-Kong authorities. The border incident, hence, was in the opinion of the P rtuguese, a visible sign of the discontent of the Chinese. The transit bussiness being now greatly reduced ít can not be entirely abolished - the colony nevertheless is still thriving. It has few industries, except those connected with the prosperous fishing and with the production of perfumes and fireworks and creckers for Chinese celebrations. Gambling and Prostitution, as weil as Opium smoking, is certainly the means of livelyhood of a certain number of highly Sea perous Chinese, who bring in some part of the ineomes of the colony. But the whole matter has been greatly overestimated. The Red Ideht district is certainly a sight for tourists and an inspiration for fiction writers, put it is certainly not the basis of livelyhood. The real foundation of the Colony's pee is the fact, that there is practically absolute tnaneial freedom - including almost absolute freedom of taxation - whieh attracts large capitals, who take refuge from China end use Macao as a basis for operations. Furthermore Macao is an impo tant center of the international gold trade. This 4s illegal, but is carried out. In general principles, Macao permits the import of gold, and bans its export. In fact nevertheless both are absolutely free. Much gold is now imported 4nto the Colony in bars, and exported in coins, fabricated in the colony. This permits great gains, especially since the distribution extends all the way to Hong-Kong, the Philippines, Siam, Vietnam, China, Indonesia etc. The result of these possi bilities is, that now vast firtunes have been puilt in the colonye Probably one of the most spectacular rises in the field 4g the one of Pedro J. Lobo. The son of a Chinese from Timor and of a Timorese mother, Lobo is today the Economic Director of the Governement of Macao. From a poor start he has amassed a fortune estimated at well over 100 Million Hongkong Dollars. He is today the most influential man in the colony. But everybody admits that while he certainly promoted his own fortunes, he has also served the community very well. Lobo, a great musician and philanthropist, is a rather simple and amiable person. But he runs the town. And he is the master of the golé
