INTERVIEW OF THE GOVERNOR OF MACO, REAR ADMIRAL ALMEIDA E COSTA, WITH 'DIARIO POPULAR' ON 23 DECEMBER 1982
1. Hong Kong/Macao
DP:
You have spoken recently about the differences between the status of Macao and Hong Kong. When negotiations start, what alterations do you think will be made to the status of Macao?
AC: There are great differences between the present situation in Hong Kong and Macao, which are clear from the technical and legal definitions of the two territories. Hong Kong is a colony with all that means in the political and economic fields. Macao is a territory under Portuguese administration and by this description it is understood that Portugal is committed - during what we believe will be a long period of time to running Macao's
Xaffairs, based on the convergence of points of view between China
and Portugal, which make possible this administrative system. In the technical field, we have to admit that the development of Hong Kong may lead to qualitative changes in Macao's situation. But it should be stressed that the development of Hong Kong has been in practice extremely favourable to the development requirements of Macao and has been compatible with the historic and cultural reasons which led to this solution. While we cannot rule out the possibility of China and Portugal
Y agreeing on different solutions in the future, at the present
moment, there are no indications or reasons, concerning Macao, for China to seek a different solution to the existing status.
DP: In terms of the future, how do you interpret the census figures released by China concerning its population, which include Hong Kong and Macao?
AC: It is natural, from China's point of view, which considers Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as Chinese territories, that the population of these territories should be included in the census. China, since the end of the civil war, or since 1949 at least, has supported the association of these territories with China. The figures released, which are in accordance with this theory supported by the Chinese, should not cause any surprise and do not indicate anything new.
Textiles
DP: Given the industrial growth of Macao, what new industries are expected to appear in the territory?
/AC