T W M Smith Esq Hong Kong Department FCO
Tom,
MACAU
1.
CONFIDENTIAL
FT MON
HK 020/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
21 JAN 1987
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
British Embassy Peking
12 January 1987
Our Ref: 020/393/23
KRIM BY
PA
Kon Taken
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FEO Done There wystations
Mr Hen seem slow and Mr Austin
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John Boyd accompanied by Peter Thomson and me called on Portuguese Ambassador Valerio on 8 January. The Ambassador had one or two things of interest to say about the Macau negotiations.
2.
Valerio referred to the Chinese 31 December press spokesman's comments (my letter of 6 January) which he said the Portuguese considered a breach of confidence. He continued that so far as the date for resumption of Chinese administration was concerned, Portugal had not yet reacted to the various Chinese proposals. The Chinese had initially proposed resumption of administration in 1997 and had subsequently offered 1998 and 1999. There had been press reports that it would be agreed that resumption of Chinese administration would take place in 2003, 2004 or 2007, which were all linked to historical anniversaries. However such dates had never been advanced by members of the Portuguese Government. Zhou Nan had been upset to receive no reaction on this question during the course of his November visit to Lisbon. Zhou had left Portugal very disappointed. Valerio said that the timing of the Chinese public statement was clearly linked to the Portuguese Council of Ministers' meeting which was to have taken place on 6 January to consider the timing of return of administration over Macau to the Chinese. He was awaiting instructions any day. He
said that he had the impression that most members of the Portuguese Government were "comfortable" with the Chinese proposal of 1999 for a return of right of administration over Macau but that the President remained to be convinced. The President's view was the key as all matters pertaining to Macau were exclusively the responsibility of the President.
3.
Valerio said that once the date for the return of Macau had been agreed most other terms in a settlement package would fall into place. He considered that nationality would be a difficult problem: he would not be drawn on possible mechanics for settling the difficulty. He added that the Portuguese were also worried about the problem of the Church in Macau and Church property. Apparently most of Macau belongs to the Church (and thus to the Vatican). In the case of Macau, land is held freehold not leasehold.
Kayden,
19/1
CONFIDENTIAL
/4.