CONFIDENTIAL
Draft Note to the Portuguese Ambassador
from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State
for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs presents his compliments
to His Excellency the Portuguese Ambassador and with reference
to his Embassy's memorandum of 18th November 1976 concerning
the Government of Macau's proposal to build an international
airport, has the honour to state that in the view of the
British Government, the construction of such an airport is
primarily a domestic matter for Macau. Until the attitude
of the Government of the People's Republic of China towards
this proposal is clear, it would, however, be premature to
hold any technical discussions involving the Hong Kong
authorities.
The Secretary of State avails himself of this
opportunity to express to the Ambassador the assurances
of his highest consideration.
CONFIDENTIAL