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7.
They also face difficulties over their own supervision
of Macau affairs in Lisbon. Constitutionally speaking these come directly under the President. However the negotiation of the JD was conducted through the Foreign Ministry and a number of other Government departments will be progressively involved as the implementation of the JD goes ahead. They can foresee problems in getting effective coordination.
There is also a
general shortage of staffing in the Foreign Ministry to deal with Macau affairs, because of conflicting demands for work on
the EC, NATO, etc. Their Embassy in Peking (an Ambassador and
one Secretary) is woefully inadequate. They hope to boost it
with a Counsellor but are still apprehensive that there is not sufficient appreciation in Lisbon of the need to devote adequate resources to Macau over the next twelve years.
8.
I am sending separate minutes to Branches concerned amplifying the bilateral points covered above.
Вар
cc CS
Sfors
SASI
SES
S (GD)
R Footman, Esq, HKD, FCO Miss A J K Bailes, PEKING Chancery, LISBON
(R D Clift)
PA
25.9.87
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