G.F. 82
PA
File No.
Page
SiRi8/5701/47.844
Copy also SES
CONFIDENTIAL
HKD
Chancery Pelim Lished
Dr. Pereira Gomes, the Diplomatic Adviser to the Governor of Macau, called on the Governor yesterday. The following were the main points discussed: -
(a) Dr. Gomes conveyed the Governor of Macau's
regards to the Governor. The Governor said that he would be happy to see the Governor of Macau whenever he was passing through Hong Kong. He also hoped to visit Macau himself some time;
(b)
(c)
The Governor asked Dr. Gomes how the first JLG meeting had gone. Dr. Gomes said that the atmosphere had been good. The Chinese had tried to explain what they wanted during the transitional period, for example permanent consultation on fundamental changes that the Portuguese were proposing to make. This had been raised in the context of two particular issues, a new ID card for Portuguese nationals in Macau and the drafting of laws to provide for the establishment of a final Court of Appeal in Macau. There had also been a general discussion on the translation of laws, adaptation of laws before 1999 and international organizations.
Dr. Gomes said that the main disagreements had arisen on the question of localisation and language. On localisation, the Portuguese had to take account of the importance of the Macanese in the civil service. While they saw the need to train Chinese officials to take over Secretary posts by 1999 and had sent a group to Portugal for this purpose, it was important also to convince the Macanese that they had a place in Macau or else they would leave. They accounted for 60% of the administration and would be vitally important until enough Chinese officials had been trained. On the question of language, the Chinese were very keen that the Chinese should become an official language in Macau as soon as possible;
CONFIDENTIAL
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