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CONFIDENTAL
343
BRIEF
CC:
Miss Evans, ECD(E) Mr Morris, HKGD
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO PORTUGAL, 24-26 JUNE
MACAU
POINTS TO MAKE
1. with regard to our relations with China over Hong Kong., helpful to know
of
Насам
2. not acceptable to us for Macao to be given a more On accession,
within the EEC
favourable status than Hong Kong.
See BJOA
a
BACKGROUND.
Presend String wers Lyal wich
1. Macao is a small territory of only 6 square miles
on the southern coast of China. Her principle economic
activity was an entrepôt for trade with China, her
industry confined to the production of fireworks etc.
Major trade was always conducted through Hong Kong.
More recently, 80% of the economy has been industry
based; textiles and tourism have overtaken gambling as
the mainstay of the economy.
2.
The Portuguese received permission from the Chinese
authorities in Canton to establish a settlement in Macao
in 1557. The status of Macao was not clarified legally
until 1887 when, by treaty, the Chinese confirmed the
'perpetual occupation and government of Macao and its
dependencies by Portugal as any other Portuguese possession'
3. There was clearly discussion of Macao in the
negotiations leading to the establishment of Sino-Portuguese
diplomatic relations in February 1979.
According to one
account there was a confidential understanding that Macao
is Chinese territory to be handed back at an undefined
of
future date.
علاء
4.
al's
Our interest in Macao is linked with Portuguese
し
accession to the EEC, We are anxious that on accession,
no special rights should be conferred on the Maconese
/which
•CANFIDENTAL
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