CONFIDENTIAL
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4.
RELATIONS WITH CHINA
Fonseca believes Macau's relations with China are easier than Hong Kong's for two reasons. The first is that China does not worry about Macau; there is not much to lose if all the Portuguese passport holders jump onto a boat and go. The second is that Macau asks so little of China. In Hong Kong there is much to lose and we badger the Chinese to make decisions! Rangel (by contrast) thinks Portugal has been too proactive in its relations, especially in the JLG. Susana Chou made the same point differently; Portugal, having left the international covenants on human rights out of the Joint Declaration, was in no position to insist on their inclusion in the Basic Law. All agree that the current Governor's trips to China have been successful and that he is respected both in Macau and China (unlike his predecessor). However Fonseca thought the Guangdong government was not very enthusiastic about Macau's improved relations with Zhuhai. Governor Zhu Senlin told Vieira pointedly that he would visit Macau, but after visiting Hong Kong.
5.
ELECTIONS
We
Rangel said these would probably take place in September. He, and others in the government, anticipated an easy victory for the traditional, more or less NCNA aligned, group. Susana Chou, however, thought the new rules favoured the small man and that the results would surprise everyone. shall see. The only important point is that if lots of unknowns do get in, then there might be strains between Legislative Assembly and Government similar to those here.
mano psam
Richard Graham
22 April 1992
CC
William Ehrman, PA, HKG Nigel Cox Esq, HKD, FCO
RG/hh
Andrew Seaton Esq, FED, FCO Alan Paul Esq, UKREP, JLG
David Coates Esq, BE Peking,
Head of Political Section, BE Lisbon
CONFIDENTIAL