OCMIAN 7694
CONFIDENTIAL
PP PEKIN
FM FCOLN TO PEKIN
03160OZ JUL
GRS 196
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY PEKING
TELNO 646
CONFIDENTIAL
47694
1
OF 031600Z JULY 86
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, LISBON
HONG KONG TELNO 2063 (NOT TO LISBON): MACAU NEGOTIATIONS
1.
WE NOTE FROM PARA 4 OF TUR THAT PRESS REPORTS FOLLOWING
THE FIRST ROUND OF MACAU NEGOTIATIONS IN PEKING MENTION AN
INDICATION (FROM PORTUGUESE SOURCES) THAT PORTUGAL WOULD SUGGEST
TO CHINA THAT BOTH COUNTRIES WOULD BENEFIT IF LISBON CONTINUED TO
RUN MACAU FOR SEVERAL YEARS AFTER 1997.
2.
CONTINUED PORTUGUESE ADMINISTRATION IN MACAU AFTER 1997
WOULD HAVE CONSIDERABLE IMPLICATIONS FOR US, GIVEN THAT IT IS
KNOWN IN HONG KONG THAT WE ORIGINALLY URGED ON THE CHINESE THE
NEED FOR CONTINUED BRITISH ADMINISTRATION AFTER 1997. EVEN
THOUGH IN OTHER RESPECTS (SUCH AS OVER SOVEREIGNTY) THE POSITION
IS DIFFERENT, INVIDIOUS COMPARISONS MIGHT STILL BE DRAWN. WE WOULD
THEREFORE BE INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW MUCH SUBSTANCE THERE IS IN
THESE PRESS REPORTS. GRATEFUL IF, IN TALKING TO THE PORTUGUESE
ABOUT THE FIRST ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS, YOU (AND HONG KONG AND
LISBON) COULD DISCREETLY SEEK TO ESTABLISH WHETHER THE PORTUGUESE
REALLY DO INTEND TO PROPOSE CONTINUED ADMINISTRATION BEYOND
1997, AND WHETHER THE CHINESE HAVE EXPRESSED A VIEW ON THE ISSUE.
HOWE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
COPIES TO:
HD/HKD
HD/FED HD/ SED
RESEARCH DEPT (FE)
DEP/HD/PUSD
PS/MR RENTON SIR W HARDING MR WILSON
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
CONFIDENTIAL
RE
See (45
사사
HRR 000/3
INT
11 JUL 1986
Laker
AjB1Y