CONFIDENTIAL
unco-ordinated manner which on occasion caused the Chinese considerable exasperation. They seemed concerned mainly with ensuring a "dignified" departure in which residual Portuguese cultural and linguistic influence could remain intact. They have apparently succeeded in this objective to the extent that the Macau agreement contains clauses promising respect for Portuguese customs, culture and language. One major objective which the Portuguese did not attain was a handover date some time in the first decade of the next century. The Chinese were adamant that the transfer must take place before the end of this century, a point which the Portuguese had eventually to concede. This issue and the question of nationality (see paragraph 6 below) were reportedly the most difficult issues to settle in the negotiations.
4.
There was
The Government and inhabitants of Macau were not informed of the progress of the negotiations. There was no representative of the Macau Government in the Portuguese negotiating team. surprisingly little interest in the territory either in the negotiations or the eventual agreement. Indeed, interest was probably greater in Hong Kong than in Macau. The general feeling
to have been that Macau was already acknowledged to be Chinese territory; that the Hong Kong agreement effectively determined the shape of Macau's future; and that it was predictable that an almost identical Joint Declaration should lay the basis for a Macau SAR.
5.
Our main interest throughout the negotiations was in impressing on the Chinese the fact that arrangements in Macau would be very closely studied in Hong Kong. Any belief there that Macau
The had somehow got a better deal would be bad for confidence. Chinese were receptive to this point. On publication of the Macau agreement, the reaction in Hong Kong was generally favourable, with few suggestions that Macau had done better. The subject has now ceased to be one of much interest in Hong Kong.
6.
There have been a number of suggestions that Macau has received better treatment than Hong Kong in the nationality
CONFIDENTIAL