CONFIDENTIAL 2
Chinese Communist Party member in Macau, Ke Zhengping, whose overt role is Manager of the Nan Guang Trading Corporation. He Xian is a deputy (representing Guangdong province) to the Chinese National People's Congress. Chinese influence over the Government of Macau reached its height following Cultural Revolution-inspired riots in 1966 and the acceptance by the Governor of a series of humiliating demands, some of which were put forward directly by the Guangdong authorities. Chinese domination of Macau has since receded, largely as a result of a deliberate policy of restraint on the Chinese side. But the Macau Government still takes care to consult Chinese unofficial representatives, or sound them out indirectly, on important issues. China's ability to influence events in Macau remains great. In 1980 pressure from China, expressed at one point openly in the Hong Kong communist press, contributed to the abandon- ment of schemes for reform of the Legislative Assembly which would have given a predominant voice to elected members.
9. Because there is no "lease" for Macau, land tenure is unaffected by any terminal date. Some land, particularly that belonging to the Church, is held freehold. Land newly formed by the Government is now generally leased for a 25-year period, renew- able for 10 years at a time.
10.
According to census results published in early 1981 the popu- lation of Macau is 250,000, but unofficial sources suggest that 100,000 or more inhabitants of the territory were not included in the census. Persons born in Macau acquire Portuguese nationality automatically. Providing they have registered, they can obtain a Portuguese passport with unrestricted access to the metropolitan country. They can also vote in Portuguese elections. Naturalisa- tion for those not born in Macau is a difficult process. The applicant has to demonstrate an ability to speak Portuguese and a connection with Portugal. It is unlikely that many new arrivals from China acquire Portuguese citizenship in this way.
CONFIDENTIAL
31 July 1981