from Hugo Sharter
SED 28
8 MAR 1991
CONFIDENTIAL HKCO20/1
VIEIRA, GENERAL VASCO JOAQUIM ROCHA
Minister for the Republic of the Azores.
Born 16 August 1939. An engineer by training, with a largely uneventful early career. Served in Macau as Assistant Secretary for Public Works in early 1975. In September 1975 he was appointed Director of the Engineering Branch with the acting rank of Brigadier. He played an active part in the events of 25 November 1975, when he supported the Commando Regiment against the Communist tendency. He was viewed as being a friend and supporter of General Ramalho Eanes at that time and was made Chief of Army Staff, with the acting rank of General, in July 1976 until March 1978, when a disagreement with Vasco Lourenço, the then Military Governor of Lisbon, led to the dismissal of both of them by General Eanes. Following this blot, he was appointed Portuguese Armed Forces representative to SHAPE (1978). Subsequently served in the Joint Services Staff HQ (EMGFA) (1980), Institute of Higher Military Studies (1983), while his last job before being appointed Minister of the Republic for the Azores was as Deputy Director of the National Defence Institute.
Regarded as a leftist in the mid-1970s but as having moderated subsequently.
He is reputed to have been strongly influenced in matters Chinese by his tour of duty in Macau, and is said to be possessed of a "cool and ironic intelligence". Regarded as having an acute political sense.
Brigadier Rocha Vieira's appointment as Minister of the Republic for the Azores has been strongly contested by the Head of the Regional Government, even though he took care to appoint a native-born Azorean Navy officer as his Chefe de Gabinete. Speaks French. He is married (Maria Leonor Albergaria) and has two children (sons). He enjoys music, cinema and the theatre. Has a home at Balaia in Algarve.
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11
for 2013 PM fi.
[New Governor of Macan]
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P.a.
Macau.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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