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unco-ordinated manner which on occasion caused the Chinese
considerable exasperation. They seemed concerned mainly with
ensuring a "dignified" departure in which residual Portuguese
cultural and linguistic influence could remain intact. They have
apparently succeeded in this objective to the extent that the Macau
agreement contains clauses promising respect for Portuguese customs, culture and language. One major objective which the Portuguese did
not attain was a handover date some time in the first decade of the
next century. The Chinese were adamant that the transfer must take
place before the end of this century, a point which the Portuguese had eventually to concede. This issue and the question of
nationality (see paragraph 6 below) were reportedly the most difficult issues to settle in the negotiations.
4.
The Government and inhabitants of Macau were not informed of
the progress of the negotiations. There was no representative of the Macau Government in the Portuguese negotiating team. There was
surprisingly little interest in the territory either in the
negotiations or the eventual agreement. Indeed, interest was probably greater in Hong Kong than in Macau. The general feeling
seems to have been that Macau was already acknowledged to be Chinese
territory; that the Hong Kong agreement effectively determined the
shape of Macau's future; and that it was predictable that an almost
identical Joint Declaration should lay the basis for a Macau SAR.
5.
Our main interest throughout the negotiations was in
impressing on the Chinese the fact that arrangements in Macau would
be very closely studied in Hong Kong. Any belief there that Macau
had somehow got a better deal would be bad for confidence. The
Chinese were receptive to this point. On publication of the Macau
agreement, the reaction in Hong Kong was generally favourable, with
few suggestions that Macau had done better. The subject has now
ceased to be one of much interest in Hong Kong.
6.
There have been a number of suggestions that Macau has
received better treatment than Hong Kong in the nationality
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