}
•
FABACB
Background Paper
PORTUGUESE NATIONALITY LAW HONG KONG/MACAO
(A) Numbers
1. The number of Macao residents holding or eligible to hold, Portuguese nationality is difficult to assess accurately, but is likely to be in the region of 100,000. The Portuguese themselves seem to have little clear idea. The Governor of Macao recently told the Senior British Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong (also Consul General for Macao) that he thought there were about 140,000 Macao residents holding Portuguese passports and that another 50,000 might qualify for passports by 1999. He estimated at present that no more than 10 per cent of the passport holders would wish to remain in Macao. By contrast, the Portuguese MFA have told the Embassy in Lisbon that they estimate that 90,000 Macao residents have or are eligible for Portuguese nationality. Most curiously, the Portuguese Foreign Minister told the Secretary of State in mid-June that only 40,000 Portuguese passports had been issued in Macao, and "none recently". This does not square with figures given to the Embassy by the Portuguese MFA.
2.
The Portuguese appear to accept that the majority of Portuguese nationals would wish to leave Macao before 1999. During a survey conducted in 1986/87 only 10 per cent suggested that when they left Macao they would go to Europe.
(B) Legal Position
3. The terms on which individuals qualify for Portuguese nationality are:
(i) Born in Portuguese territory, or territory under Portuguese administration, to a Portuguese father or mother, or abroad provided the Portuguese parent is in the service of the Portuguese state.