CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY FOREIGN OFFICE TO LISBON
LAST
REF.
TELNO 757
14 JULY 1967 (FF 1/1)
NEXT
REF.
43
STRATION
CONFIDENTIAL.
زه
ADDRESSED TO LISBON TELEGRAM NO. 757 DATE 14/7 AND TO HONG KONG. HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 8649 MACAO.
WE HAVE DECIDED IN PRINCIPLE TO CLOSE THE MACAO CONSULATE. HOWEVER, WE DO NOT, REPEAT NOT, WISH TO MAKE ANY ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THIS NOR TAKE ANY ACTION TO TERMINATE THE LEASES OF THE CON SULATE BUILDINGS FOR THE TIME BEING. NOR DO WE WISH TO INFORM THE PORTUGUESE OF OUR DECISION UNTIL WE HAVE REMOVED OUR CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS, TO AVOID ANY RISK OF IT BECOMING KNOWN, WE HAVE DECIDED THAT LOCALLY ENGAGED STAFF SHOULD NOT BE PAID OFF UNTIL 31 AUGUST AND YOU SHOULD NOT TELL THEM THIS FOR THE TIME BEING. D.S.A.0. WILL BE TELEGRAPHING SEPARATELY TO HONG KONG ABOUT THIS.
2. MEANWHILE WE WISH TO TAKE THE PORTUGUESE AT THEIR WORD AND ASK FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN REMOVING TO SAFETY IN HONG KONG FILES AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS FROM THE CONSULATE, WE SHALL THEREFORE SUMMON THE AMBASSADOR AND ASK HIM IF THEY WILL BE PREPARED TO GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF TWO OFFICERS WHOM WE WOULD SEND FROM HONG KONG FOR THE PURPOSE AND SEND THE NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONS TO THE GOVERNOR IN MACAO AND THEIR CONSULATE-GENERAL IN HONG KONG. WHEN WE HAVE OBTAINED THIS GUARANTEE, WE WILL ASK HONG KONG TO WORK OUT THE DETAILED MECHANICS AS SUGGESTED IN PARAGRAPH 2 OF THEIR TELEGRAM NO. 970. WE SHALL BASE THIS APPROACH ON THE ASSURANCES GIVEN BY THE PORTUGUESE AMBASSADOR IN LONDON TO MR. RODGERS ON 8 JUNE ( MY TELEGRAM TO LISBON NO. 621). WE SHALL ALSO ASK THEM TO ARRANGE FOR THE PACKING AND DESPATCH OF PERSONAL EFFECTS. WE WILL THANK THE PORTUGUESE FOR THE MACAO GOVERNMENT'S HELP
/IN TRANSFERRING
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 62
HWA3/2
CONFIDENTIAL
PA
19/7