cleared with JED
2
Enter.
ди
Type 1 +
From
Telephone No. Ext.
Department
In Confidence
VISIT BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER OF PORTUGAL, 14/15 FEBRUARY 1977
LINE TO TAKE
PROPOSED AIRPORT AT MACAO (DEFENSIVE)
It is hoped to provide a substantive reply to the
Embassy's memorandum on this subject shortly.
Consultation
3
Separate copies
14. Durd
Hong Kong D
Mu. Boon
-MATD.
www.Dichison-
SEAD.
Svateful for
has been necessary between Government Departments and with
the Hong Kong Government before a reply could be given.
BACKGROUND
Since Portuguese Timor, whose status HMG regard as
unclear, was incorporated into Indonesia in 1976, Macao is
Portugal's sole remaining overseas territory. A Portuguese Embassy memorandum of 18 November 1976 to the FCO asked for
Relephone clearance HMG's views on a Portuguese proposal to build an international.
to the extract
from wiet on tinglo - Portuguese Relations for Portuguese P04's
visit
WEN, SED.
*5639.
airport at Macao. The memorandum specifically stated that the
project would benefit both Macao and Hong Kong and asked
for HMG's agreement to it being pursued directly between the
Macao and Hong Kong authorities. There are considerable
doubts in Whitehall about both the viability of the project,
and its benefit to Hong Kong. It has not been easy therefore
to agree on an appropriate reply to the Portuguese and one
is still being prepared in consultation with Hong Kong.
CONFIDENTIAL
D 107991 500,000 7/76 904 353
1