Mr Cortazzi Corta
CONFIDENTIAL
во
HKK ovoli
10 JUL 1978
An Thompson
רית
འ
HONG KONG AND MACAU
1.
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INDEX
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How Tekan
You will wish to see Lord Goronwy-Roberts' comments on FCO telno 514 to Hong Kong (which summarises the Secretary of State's conversation with the Portuguese Foreign Minister on this subject on 30 June) before your lunch with the Portuguese Ambassador today.
2. The Director of the NCNA told the Political Adviser in Hong Kong on 28 June that the Chinese "did not intend to raise the question of Macau during these discussions" [about establish- ing diplomatic relations]" ...and "hoped the Portuguese would not raise the matter either (Hong Kong telno 811). Against this background, and that of the secret report which I submitted to the Secretary of State before his meeting with Dr Sa Machado, the Portuguese claim that the Chinese had demanded from them a statement recognising Chinese sovereignty over Macau (see paragraph 7 of the full record of conversation copy attached) is distinctly odd.
3.
According to Lord Moran, who spoke to Mr Quantrill on the telephone on 30 June, the Political Director at the Portuguese Foreign Ministry told him that during the talks about establishing diplomatic relations in Paris the Chinese delegation had pressed the Portuguese to reaffirm a statement made by them on 6 January 1975. Dr Villas-Boas apparently referred to the statement as an acknowledgement that Macau is an integral part of China. I attach a copy of the only version of this text which we have on record. You will see that the crucial part of this statement refers to Taiwan; the reference to Macau ("that the territory of Macau could be the subject for negotiations at a moment convenient to the two governments") is uncontroversial. It is difficult to believe that the Portuguese have not checked their own statement. But it does seem at least possible that there has been a misunder- standing, and that what the Chinese are asking for is, as one might expect, a reaffirmation of Chinese soveriegnty over Taiwan, and not a statement about Macau.
4. I think we should ask Lord Moran to put this point to the Portuguese Political Director. We might also ask Dr Wilson to raise the matter with the NCNA. I submit a draft telegram accordingly. It might be best to delay despatching it until after your lunch with the Portuguese Ambassador, who might possible be able to throw some light on the question.
7 July 1978
Cc:
PS
PS/Lord Goronwy Roberts
Mr Murray
FED
выпили
RJT McLaren
Hong Kong and General Department
To sour
CONFIDENTIAL
F/vii