Mr Boon M&GD
Mr Orr FED
Mr Fullerton SED
MACAO AIRPORT
COVERING SECRET
RECEN RED
10 MAY 1977
WSP 182/412/1
$12/1
/tairport
I have no comments on
I think,
1. Mr David has shown me these papers. the first three paragraphs of Mr Fullerton's draft minute. however, that the fourth paragraph should be amended to the effect that we should inform the Portuguese Counsellor that our Note of 12 April was meant to indicate that we thought it was up to the Portuguese to establish, without doubt, that the Chinese would have no objection if an airport were to be constructed in Macao. Our aim has been to try/to reveal our own thinking about it. This way of playing things would be better from the point of view of Hong Kong/ Macao relations and, I would suppose, (though it is not HKGD's business) from the point of view of Anglo/Portuguese relations. Of course, we should not discourage any doubts that the Portuguese Ambassador here may have about the project, but we should let him make the running in pouring cold water on it, if that is what he wants to do. With these points in mind, I suggest that the fourth paragraph of Mr Fullerton's draft minute might be revised as follows:
.. 2.
"In view of the Ambassador's remarks to you, I suggest that Sr. Barata, the Counsellor at the Portuguese Embassy, should be advised informally, with reference to your conversation with his Ambassador, that we look to the Portuguese authorities to establish where the Chinese stand with regard to the proposal.
14,
さ
2. I should recall that the Portuguese Note of 18 November last was handed to Mr Stewart by Sr. Barata. It may be, therefore, that HKGD should now follow up with Sr. Barata. (Paragraph 4 of Mr Hibbert's minute is also relevant.) If the other departments agree, I will
ask Mr Stewart whether he will have a word with Sr. Barata.
10 May 1977
DF Milton
Hong Kong & General Department K 247 233 4382
COVERING SECRET
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