UNCLASSIFIED
HKL020/1....
25 MAN 1991
TOP Cur Q DIST?
26
007225 MDLIAN 7725
UNCLASSIFIED
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 101
OF 210845Z MARCH 91
INFO ROUTINE LISBON, PEKING, HONG KONG, DTI
ра. масли CS
FCO FOR HONG KONG DEPARTMENT (AND FED)
NEW GOVERNOR OF MACAU
SUMMARY
GENERAL ROCHA VIEIRA APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF MACAU AND LIKELY TO ARRIVE BY THE END OF APRIL. POPULAR DECISION IN MACAU. MOST OF THE UNDER SECRETARIES LIKELY TO BE CHANGED.
1. DR SOARES' SPECIAL ENVOY COLONEL MOTA CONFIRMED IN MACAU ON TUESDAY THE APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL ROCHA VIEIRA AS 127TH GOVERNOR OF MACAU. THIS ENDED MONTHS OF SPECULATION FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION OF GOVERNOR MELANCIA LAST SEPTEMBER OVER RUMOURS OF CORRUPTION.
2. ALTHOUGH THE DATE OF VIEIRA'S ARRIVAL HAS NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED ACTING GOVERNOR NABO HAS SAID PRIVATELY THAT HE EXPECTS TO LEAVE IN THE NEXT MONTH, SUGGESTING VIEIRA WILL BE IN PLACE BY THE END OF APRIL.
3.
VIEIRA, 51, HAS ALREADY TWICE SERVED IN MACAU AS CHIEF OF STAFF IN THE SECURITY FORCES (1973-4) AND UNDER SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC WORKS. HIS CURRENT POSITION IS AS MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AZORES. VIEIRA FULFILLS STANLEY HO'S CRITERIA OF A GOVERNOR WHO SPEAKS ENGLISH CHE IS ALSO EX AMBASSADOR TO NATO) AND KNOWS MACAU.
4.
THE
IN MACAU VIEIRA'S APPOINTMENT WAS WIDELY ANTICIPATED. CHINESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, THE SECURITY FORCES AND THE LEAL SENADO ALL SIGNIFIED THEIR APPROVAL INFORMALLY TO MOTA LAST WEEK. ALTERNATIVE CANDIDATES SUCH AS THE CURRENT PORTUGUESE ANTI CORRUPTION COMMISSIONER CA PROSPECT VIEWED WITH CONSIDERABLE MISGIVING BY MACANESE OF BOTH PORTUGUESE AND CHINESE ORIGIN), WERE NOT STRONG.
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