811.79690 Pan American Airways/83
The Consul at Hong Kong ( Donovan ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 4, 1937.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith the articles of incorporation of the “Aeorportos Pan Americana de Macau, Limitada”,8 a company which the Pan-American Airways was compelled under Portuguese [Page 647] law to organize at Macao in order to operate their airport there. The capital of the company is HK$40,000.
Under the articles of incorporation the Aeroportos Pan-Americana de Macau is empowered to construct, establish, and operate airports, aerodromes, hangars, workshops, and all ground facilities pertaining thereto, in the territory of Macao. The Society “may also engage in the representation, either through the means of agency or through other contracts, of commercial airlines as well as in their advertising, and also engage itself in the operation of airlines where such may promote its principal objects or its commercial interests.”
There is nothing unusual in the articles of incorporation which are routine under Portuguese law. The full text taken from the Boletim Oficial De Macau of October 31, 1936, is enclosed herewith.
It is learned from reliable sources in Hong Kong that Japan is still desirous of establishing an air line from Japan to Bangkok but that their inability to obtain landing facilities at some point between Formosa and Bangkok is a stumbling block.9 It is difficult to see, however, how the British can refuse them facilities at Hong Kong when such privileges have been accorded to the United States and China, according to the same informant.*
It is also understood that Great Britain would like to have landing facilities on Hainan Island but how actively they are pushing the matter cannot be ascertained.
Respectfully yours,
- Enclosures not printed. The Consul General at Hong Kong in his telegram of January 20, 1937, 3 p.m., stated: “The Crown Colony of Hong Kong and the Pan-American Airways have signed an agreement for the direct air transport of first class mail matter to and from the United States via the Philippines.” (811.79690 Pan American Airways/84.)↩
- For information regarding the establishment of Japanese civil aviation service with North China, see pp. 359–364, passim.↩
- Mr. H. M. Bixby, Vice-President, Pan American Airways. [Footnote in the original.]↩