CONFIDENTIAL
The Chinese had been resisting the establishment of diplomatic
relations until it was clear that there was no Soviet influence
over the Portuguese Government; conditions for a resumption were now established.
Macao was held by Portugal under en unwritten
convention. There was no treaty. The 1933 (Salazar) Constitution
had defined Macao as an integral part of Portuguese territory but the 1976 Constitution stated that "the territory of Macao, under
Portuguese Administration, shall be governed by a Statute in
keeping with its special situation". The Chinese wished the
Portuguese Covernment to give a clear statement recognising that
Macao belonged to China. Dr Se Machado could confirm that the
Chinese Ambassador in Paris had said this in terms during
negotiations.
8.
Dr Owen
Chinese.
advised that the issue should not be raised with the
The Chinese would prefer it left alone and it would
probably be possible to go through the whole negotiations without
the issue being mentioned.
would not broach the matter, but the Chinese were raising it, even
if only informally. Dr Owen did not think the Chinese would
want Macao back, nor the offer of it. They thought Hong Kong and
Macao were parts of China; we thought not; but no-one talked
about it. The Chinese might assert that Macao was part of China;
Portugal could reply that it was under Portuguese Administration but leave out saying that it was Portuguese territory.
Dr Sa Machado said the Portuguese
CONFIDENTIAL
/Dr Sa Machado