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WHEN THE CHINESE HAD, 'ON A FRIENDLY BASIS', GIVEN THE PORTUGUESE AN EXPOSE ON THE BASIC LAW.
5. CATARINO EXPLAINED THE CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED WORKLOAD DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD. HE SAID THAT THE CHINESE HAD ACCEPTED THIS. THEIR MAIN WORRY WAS ABOUT THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND ELECTED GROUPS IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, AND WERE RE-ASSURED BY THE FACT THAT EACH OF THE GROUPS WERE BEING INCREASED EQUALLY. THE CHINESE REMAINED 'UNCOMFORTABLE' WITH THE IDEA OF CHANGES TO THE MACAU JURIDICAL SYSTEM CHITHERTO CASES FOR APPEAL HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE HIGHER COURTS IN LISBON: THE NEW ORGANIC LAW WILL ESTABLISH AN APPEAL COURT IN MACAU). THE CHINESE WERE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE FROM 5-7 THE NUMBER OF THE GOVERNOR'S ASSISTANT SECRETARIES, PARTICULARLY AS ONE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY AND THE OTHER FOR TRANSITION ISSUES. CATARINO DID NOT GIVE THE IMPRESSION HOWEVER THAT THERE WAS ANY DANGER OF THE PORTUGUESE BEING DEFLECTED FROM THEIR PROPOSALS.
6. CATARINO WENT ON TO DESCRIBE HIS RECENT TALKS WITH THE CHINESE IN MACAU. THEY HAD DISCUSSED IDENTITY CARDS. THE CHINESE WOULD PROBABLY LIKE THE PORTUGUESE TO ISSUE IDENTITY CARDS LIKE THOSE IN HONG KONG WHICH DO NOT MENTION NATIONALITY. BUT THE PORTUGUESE ARE UNWILLING TO CHANGE THEIR POLICY AT A TIME WHEN MACAU CONFIDENCE REMAINS DELICATE AND THEY WOULD FACE POLITICAL CAND POSSIBLY LEGAL) PROBLEMS
IN LISBON.
7 OTHER SUBJECTS DISCUSSED INCLUDED PREMISES FOR A FUTURE
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PORTUGUESE CONSULATE-GENERAL IN MACAU, AND THE VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS (NEW AIRPORT, DEEP WATER HARBOUR AND SECOND BRIGDE). CATARINO DESCRIBED HIS VISIT
AS WORTHWHILE, BUT SUGGESTED THAT THE CHINESE ATTITUDE WAS NOT QUITE SO POSITIVE AND FLEXIBLE AS IT HAD BEEN AT THE MOST RECENT JLG IN LISBON. THE CHINESE WERE STILL LESS AGGRESSIVE THAN BEFORE (ALTHOUGH LU PING HAD MADE SOME HARSH PUBLIC REMARKS DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO MACAU) BUT WERE BECOMING VERY CAUTIOUS AGAIN. CATARINO SUGGESTED THAT THIS NOT ONLY REFLECTED THE COMPARATIVE DISTANCE FROM THE EVENTS OF TIANANMEN SQUARE: IT WAS ALSO DUE TO THE CONFUSED POWER STRUCTURE IN PEKING AND THE GENERAL FEAR OF TAKING DECISIONS. CATARINO SUGGESTED THAT THE PORTUGUESE WOULD HAVE TO PUT UP WITH CHINESE NEGOTIATING TACTICS: THE PORTUGUESE WERE IN A FAR WEAKER
POSITION THAN WE WERE OVER HONG KONG.
8. HEAD OF CHANCERY HAS ARRANGED TO HAVE LUNCH WITH CATARINO NEXT
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