n
(25)
GRS 750
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1186
OF 090316Z JULY 86
Confidential
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, LISBON
A
(ALA)
MY TELNO.1146 AND YOUR TELNO. 6467 MACAO.
HKK 00013
RECE VESTAN LOISTRY 11 JUL 1986
يا
1. THE PORTUGUESE AMBASSADOR GAVE ME A BRIEFING TO-DAY (8TH JULY) ABOUT THE FIRST ROUND OF TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF MACAO. HE SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN AUTHORISED TO BRIEF ME (AND ME ALONE) ABOUT DEVELOP-
MENTS, ON CONDITION THAT I SAID NOTHING TO THE CHINESE OR OTHER THIRD PARTIES, BY MEDINA, LEADER OF THE PORTUGUESE DELEGATION. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT I WOULD WANT TO REPORT TO YOU, BUT HOPED THAT WHAT HE SAID TO ME COULD BE CLOSELY PROTECTED.
2. VALERIO SAID THAT THE COMPOSITION OF THE PORTUGUESE DELEGATION
HAD ONLY BEEN SETTLED AT THE LAST MINUTE. IT CONSISTED OF MEDINA
(WHO WOULD CEASE TO BE PORTUGUESE AMBASSADOR TO THE UN IN JULY, BUT WHO WOULD THERE AFTER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT TIMOR AS WELL AS MACAO. THE PORTUGUESE CONSUL-GENERAL IN HONG KONG, A COUNSELLOR FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THE HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT IN THE PRESIDENCY, A LEGAL ADVISER AND THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS IN MACAO. HE HIMSELF WAS AN ADVISER TO THE DELEGATION, WITH THE RIGHT TO ATTEND MEETINGS AND SPEAK AT THEM. THE SUPPORTING STAFF CONSISTED OF AN INTERPRETER
AND THREE NOTETAKERS. ALL WERE MANDARIN-SPEAKING MACANESE. MEDINA
HAD ALSO BEEN APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF AN INTERMINISTERIAL GROUP IN
LISBON, WHOSE FUNCTIONS WOULD BE TO MAKE POLICY AND OVERSEE ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
3. VALERIO SAID THAT BOTH JI PENGFE AND ZHOU NAN HAD GIVEN DINNERS
AT THE DIAOYUTA!. HE HAD HIMSELF GIVEN A DINNER AT THE PORTUGUESE EMBASSY. THE ONLY THREATENING WORDS UTTERED BY THE CHINESE DURING THE ROUND HAD BEEN SPOKEN BY JI. HE HAD SAID THAT CHINA WANTED THE
NEGOTIATION TO LAST FOR ONLY A SHORT TIME. A LONG NEGOTIATION COULD AFFECT STABILITY IN MACAO, WHICH COULD IN TURN REQUIRE CHINESE ACTION. THE ROUND OF TALKS HAD CONSISTED OF TWO SESSIONS, ON 30 JUNE AND 1 JULY.
4. AT THE FIRST SESSION ZHOU HAD PROPOSED AN AGENDA OF THREE ITEMS:
(A) THE RESUMPTION OF THE EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY BY CHINA OVER
MACAO
(B) THE REGIME FOR MACAO DURING THE 50 YEARS FOLLOWING THIS
RESUMPTION
AND
(C) ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.
Confidential
ken
AB"/
/HE.
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