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100451
MDHIAN 5321
THEM INFORMED, AND MACAU REPRESENTATIVES CONSULTED, OVER THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BASIC LAW. PINHEIRO HAD EXPLAINED THAT THE PORTUGUESE WISHED TO ENSURE THAT THE NON-APPLICATION OF THE DEATH PENALTY WOULD FEATURE. AS THE FIRST COUNTRY TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY (IN 1867) THIS WAS A MATTER OF SOME CONCERN TO THEM. CATARINO CONFIRMED THAT THE PORTUGUESE NOW HAVE A FIRST - BUT NOT EXHAUSTIVE - DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW. BUCK SAID THAT WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN COMPARING TEXTS. CATARINO UNDERTOOK TO GET BACK TO US
ON THIS: HE THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO GIVE US A COPY.
COMMENT
9. THE PORTUGUESE ARE EVIDENTLY PLEASED WITH THE WAY THE VISIT WENT. WHETHER IT WILL SERVE TO HELP UNBLOCK THE DIFFICULTIES OVER THE AIRPORT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. QIAN QICHEN'S COMMENTS ABOUT PROBLEMS
WITH THE HONG KONG AIRPORT MAY HAVE BEEN MEANT TO CALM THE PORTUGUESE, BUT SEEN FROM HERE MAY HAVE LESS REASSURING IMPLICATIONS FOR US.
10. FCO PLEASE ADVANCE TO PRIVATE OFFICE.
ARBUTHNOTT
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
58
LIMITED
SED
FED
HKD
NEWS D
INFO D
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
58
PS
PS/MR GAREL-JONES
PS/PUS
MR WESTON
MR GREENSTOCK
MR BURNS
3
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