SECRET
PORTUGUESE TO RESPECT THE PRIVATE CHARACTER OF THESE EXCHANGES). IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES BRITISH POLICY IS TO CONTINUE TO ADMINISTER THE TERRITORY IN THE INTERESTS OF THOSE WHO LIVE THERE, ANGLO/ CHINESE AND HONG KONG/CHINESE RELATIONS ARE AT PRESENT EXCELLENT.
3. YOU HAVE DISCRETION TO GIVE THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR THE DOCUMENTS
LISTED IN PARAGRAPH 1 EXPLAINING THAT THEY ARE FOR BACKGROUND AND
HISTORICAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND SPEAK ON THE LINES OF PARAGRAPH 2 ABOVE (WITHOUT HANDING OVER A SPEAKING NOTE). IN THE MEANTIME, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR OWN ASSESSMENT OF THE LINE WHICH THE PORTUGUESE ARE LIKELY TO TAKE ON MACAO IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS
WITH THE CHINESE OVER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.
IF IT BECAME KNOWN THAT THE PORTUGUESE HAD OFFERED TO RETURN
MACAU TO CHINA, BUSINESS CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG COULD BE SERIOUSLY
AFFECTED, EVEN IF THE OFFER WERE TURNED DOWN. WE ARE THEREFORE
BRIEFING THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO RAISE THE QUESTION WITH DR SA
MACHADO WHEN HE SEES HIM ON 30 JUNE.
4. WE HAVE SEEN HONG KONG TELNO, 799. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THE
GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG AND HM AMBASSADOR IN PEKING COULD TELEGRAPH
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS BY 1200Z ON 29 JUNE. YOUR OWN ASSESSMENT SHOULD
REACH US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
OWEN
FILES
HRGD (6)
FED
SED
NTD
LEGAL ADVISERS
RESEARCH D
PS/LORD GORON WY ROBERTS
MR HIBB SAT
MR
CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
MR FERGUSSON
2
SECAFT.