23
165377
MDTTAN 9808
RESTRICTED
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO TELELETTER FCO
TELELETTER M120/1
OF 1410OOZ
MARCH 91
RESTRICTED
HKCO20/1
AND TO TELELETTER LISBON, PEKING, HONG KONG AND TO TELELETTER UKREP JLG HONG KONG
cc/. Ms Sounders
P.a.
Macau.
FROM: GRAHAM BIC HONG KONG
FOR:
CJ SAINTY ESQ, HKD, FCO
J S BUTT ESQ, LISBON
SJ BRADLEY ESQ, DPA, HONG KONG
S RIORDAN ESQ, PEKING
C PARTON ESQ, UKREP JLG.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS IN MACAU
SUMMARY
10 MARCH.
THE MACAU LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY MID TERM ELECTIONS OF 4 ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS ON 10 MARCH PRODUCED NO SURPRISES. THE 2 NEW INDIRECTLY
ELECTED MEMBERS WERE UNOPPOSED AND THE 2 NEW DIRECTLY ELECTED
WERE CONSERVATIVES FROM THE LARGEST POLITICAL GROUP. VOTER TURN- OUT (18 PER CENT) WAS LOW EVEN BY MACAU'S DOZY STANDARDS.
M
1 I WAS IN MACAU 2 DAYS BEFOREHAND AND WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL
LEADING CHINESE THAT UNIPRO (A POLITICAL GROUP DOMINATED BY THE KAIFONGS OR TRADERS UNION) WOULD WIN BOTH DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS. THEY WERE CERTAINLY THE ONLY ONE OF THE 5 GROUPS CONTESTING TO
CAMPAIGN AT ALL OR EVEN PUT UP MANY POSTERS. THE UNIPRO CANDIDATES LEONG HENGTING (ALSO OF THE LEAL SENADO OR URBAN COUNCIL) AND KO HOIYIN CA TRADER) DULY WON.
2. THE NEW INDIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS ARE DR DAMIAO RODRIQUES, A LAWYER (FOR CULTURE AND RECREATION) AND PAM WAIGUM, A LABOUR UNIONIST (FOR ECONOMIC INTERESTS). RODRIQUES HAPPENS TO BE ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT CARLOS D'ASSUMPCAO'S GODSON, AND PAM WAS FAVOURED BY CHINESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MA MAN KEI. NOT SURPRISINGLY NEITHER CANDIDATE WAS OPPOSED.
3. THE 23 STRONG ASSEMBLY NOW HAS 8 DIRECTLY ELECTED, 8 INDIRECTLY ELECTED AND 7 NOMINATED MEMBERS. RULES FOR FUTURE
ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO REFLECT GREATER OPPORTUNITIES
THE SMALLER GROUPS (IE NON UNIONS AND MAJOR ASSOCIATIONS) IN THE
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