布政司署
香港下亞厘華道
本署檔號 OUR REF.:
* Your Ref.:
PA B Thompson Esq
FED
F CO
Dear Peter,
CONFIDENTIAL
A POLITICAL ADVISER IN MACAO
WP
Rey
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about
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GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
02012
24 December 1982
CC HKCD
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Muchons to M.Str.
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You will have seen Philip Watson's letter of 3 December to Nigel Cox reporting a conversation on this subject with the number two in the Portuguese Embassy in Peking.
2.
The
We had not heard that the Portuguese might be considering appointing a political adviser to Macau so I asked the Portuguese Consul-General about it when he paid his farewell call on me today. Catarino said that the idea had originated with him. He had become convinced that the Governor of Macau needed some "diplomatic" support and had had no difficulty in persuading Rear Admiral Almeida e Costa of the benefits of such an arrangement. previous Portuguese Foreign Minister had, however, turned down the idea, on the ground that since the Foreign Ministry had no responsibility for Macau (the Governor is appointed by, and responsible to the President) awkwardness could be caused if a Diplomatic Service officer was sent there. The present Foreign Minister had however seen things differ- ently and the appointment of a "diplomatic adviser" was now agreed in principle. There were different views as to the right level of the post. The Foreign Ministry wanted to send someone of Minister rank, arguing that it would be difficult to find a suitable young officer, but Catarino thought this would make little sense. In his view the right, course would be to send a senior man to Hong Kong as Consul General and a more junior officer to Macau. The latter could, if necessary, look to the former for advice. Catarino thought this would be the outcome. He confirmed that Tanger in Peking was among those being considered for the job.
ever,
Your
Roboni
4/1
(R JT McLaren)
PS
Happy
Christmas!
cc J P Watson Esq, Peking
Chancery, Lisbon
CONFIDENTIAL