CONFIDENTIAL
- 2
it won't.
The Sino-Portuguese Memorandum has so far not led to widespread invidious comparison between the respective rights of abode of nationals of the two territories. There was a reference in an editorial of the SCMP (24 March). Legco member, Mr Desmond Lee, was quoted as saying "Lisbon is much more noble-minded to Macau than London is to Hong Kong ... the only conclusion I can draw is that the British Government is not sincere in its moral responsibility to us". Dr Joseph Cheng, a senior lecturer of the Chinese University expressed similar sentiments. I am not aware of any other such public reaction. However, I think it possible that some District Boards members. may make such invidious comparisons when we address them on the proposed legislation on right of abode in Hong Kong. It is also difficult to rule out that the ethnic minorities might not seize this opportunity to make another bid for British citizenship. What remains to be clarified is who is a Portuguese by virtue of his connection with Macau (eg at its simplest, how would a child born of a Chinese Portuguese woman, whose father was born in Lisbon, be regarded?). In any event, it seems likely that Portuguese nationality may be perpetuated indefinitely by mothers going to Portugal for confinement and registration of birth.
The Legislature
—
The legislature will have a majority of instead of all elected members. I presume that the Chinese have since learnt a great deal more about the members that sit in Hong Kong government bodies where some are elected and others appointed. The obvious merit of having appointed members might have been obvious to them. The present legislature in Macau includes heads. of leftist organisations who are all appointed. desire to preserve this situation may also have been thought desirable for Macau.
Defence by the Military
The
The media set great store by the absence in the Sino-Portuguese Declaration of any reference similar to that in Section XII of Annex 1 to the Joint Declaration. I suspect it was during one of Mr Deng Xiaoping's temper tantrum that he insisted on a Chinese military presence in Hong Kong SAR as a symbol of sovereignty. However, news of this had a most unsettling effect on Hong Kong. It is possible that the Chinese have realised that Chinese troups would cut a poor figure when compared with members of the Portuguese Military who are responsible for the maintenance of law and order in Macau. I hope this may lead them to have second thoughts about the intended military presence in Hong Kong. Section XII does not
CONFIDENTIAL
/...