2
Sources linked with the Portuguese delegation revealed that they considered that so called "significant progess" was nothing more than a "first step", and that they were convinced that "there is still a lot of technical work to do, which will be entrusted to
specialists from the two countries". Our own sources which did not wish to be identified revealed that "it was important, all in all, to understand that the Chinese delegation gave proof of great openness and political goodwill to retain Macau on these international organisations, one of which GATT, for example, being fundamental for the economy of the territory which
has a textile sector as one of its pillars".
The delegates of the two countries will also
have touched upon the repercussion for the territory of the violent event in China and subjects linked to
the localisation of the civil service and the status
of the Chinese language.
Portuguese sources from Lisbon which we have just cited, categorically denied the previous news reported by LUSA that the principal subject of the. meeting was an analysis of the future revision of the Organic Statute of Macau for, in their opinion, "it was a matter which only concerned the National Assembly
of the Republic of Portugal". The same sources admitted
nevertheless that "it is one thing to put this on
the agenda or to make it the principal subject of a meeting as was reported, and quite another thing to give an idea informally of what one is thinking of doing on the matter, and this is a reasonable thing to put as the revision of the statute will influence
Macau during the transition period and this is what
was done".