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This city, which before the war had some one hundred thousand inhabitants, suddenly saw its population grow to half a million. Hong Kong’s population, which had been huge, dropped to 300,000 after the Japanese occupation.

Who came? From Hong Kong came 2,500 Portuguese, many British and almost all foreign communities established there: Italians, Germans, Dutch, French, Americans, Irish, etc. They occupied theatres, clubs, vacant schools, Green Island and even a ship in Porto Interior. Each Portuguese refugee received $30 a month from the government.

When the Japanese invaded South China, they triggered the exodus of Chinese to Macau. Unfortunately, mingled with peaceful people there also came gangs of pirates who intended to continue their exploits here, terrorising people with armed robberies, especially at night. With this many victims, the Police had a challenge in maintaining public order.

There arrived thousands of pathetic coolies and hungry beggars who lay on the sides of the footpaths in an array of misery. Many arrived here in agony, dying hours later. Others managed to endure, but as hunger progressively overcame them, hundreds a day died of starvation on public roads. Most disgusting was the exhibition of skeletal children bought by beggars to arouse the compassion of passers-by.

Several times, when passing these poor people, we tried to give them a piece of bread, but they didn’t have the strength to raise it to their mouth, such was their state! These beggars lay outside displays of roast meat, cakes and foodstuffs emitting pleasant odours that tormented the palate. But they died without anything being put in their hands!

Of all the Portuguese communities in the Far East, the one that suffered the most were the ones from Shanghai, where thousands of our people lived.When the Japanese occupied Hong Kong, they allowed the Portuguese to take refuge in Macau, but those in Shanghai had to stay there, as there were no boats to transport them here. During the long period of the war, they suffered pangs of pain, spending dark hours in distressed misery.Their distressed cries reached Macau and, despite the great misery that existed here, concerts, recitals, raffles and subscriptions were organised, and large sums were sent to Shanghai through the Portuguese Red Cross.

Macau really lived up to its [tt  keyword=”400-year mission”]The Portuguese had a settlement in Macau for four centuries[/tt] as the City of Refuge.