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FM BTC HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 356
OF 271033Z NOVEMBER 91
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, JLG HONG KONG
M4D 24/1
126
031111
MDHIAN 3693
PEKING: FOR MINISTER VISITING
VISIT BY LORD CAITHNESS TO MACAU
1. THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST TODAY (27 NOVEMBER) CARRIES A PROMINENT INSIDE PAGE ARTICLE BY THEIR LONDON CORRESPONDENT, DAVID WALLEN (COPY BY FAX TO NEWS DEPARTMENT AND HKD) HEADLINED 'MACAU URGED TO HALT BOAT PEOPLE FLOW'. THE ARTICLE SAYS THAT 'BRITAIN IS TO PRESS MACAU TO HALT THE FLOW OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE THROUGH ITS TERRITORY' AND THAT 'LORD CAITHNESS WILL ASK THE MACANESE TO TAKE ACTION' WHEN HE VISITS MACAU ON 7 DECEMBER. THIS THEME TAKES UP HALF THE ARTICLE, THE OTHER HALF DEALS WITH THE VISIT TO CHINA AND WORRIES OVER PROLIFERATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS. THE ARTICLE INCLUDES A NUMBER OF DIRECT SPEECH QUOTATIONS AND IS PRESUMABLY BASED ON AN INTERVIEW.
2. THE DIPLOMATIC ADVISER TO THE GOVERNOR OF MACAU HAS TELEPHONED TO ASK WHETHER THIS IS INDEED THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE VISIT. I REPLIED THAT NOTHING I HAD BEEN TOLD INDICATED THAT THAT WAS TO BE SEEN AS A MAJOR ISSUE: THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE VISIT WAS FOR THE MINISTER TO LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT MACAU AND THE COMMON ISSUES IT SHARES WITH HONG KONG. THESE MIGHT INCLUDE VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS, BUT TO RAISE THIS ISSUE IS NOT A MAIN PURPOSE OF THE VISIT.
3. WE HAVE REPLIED TO SEVERAL PRESS ENQUIRIES ALONG SIMILAR LINES. WE WILL DOUBTLESS BE ADVISED IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE SHOULD ADD.
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