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CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 21st January, 1967. R. 21st
11
10
33
JAN
11 12
1967
08.50 hrs.
LAST
REF
28
NEA!
REF.
(94
·AR
RECEIVED IN
No.63
IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 93
(28).
Your telegram No. 123.
Macao.
HWB3/3
H.M. Consul Macao has been keeping in very close touch with us about developments and possible contingencies. He visited Hong Kong on 19th January and the Assistant Political Adviser visited Macao on 20th January.
20
The Consul is attempting to prepare a list of persons for whom he is responsible and who would wish to leave Macao in the event of a serious emergency. Last year
176 persons registered with him. These will not have included children and the last will certainly not have
included all eligible persons. The Consul's very tentative estimate of potential evacuees is 300 at the outside including Commonwealth citizens. Most of the se are thought to be of Chinese race. Commonwealth citizens are thought to be five Australians of European origin and up to 100 Canadians of Chinese origin. We are in contact with the Australian and Canadian Trade Commissioners regarding these.
3. The Consul's means of communication with British subjects in Macao are limited. He would have to rely to a great extent on them contacting him. His view at the moment is strongly that the families of his staff should not (repeat not) leave Macao. He is the only career Consul in Macao and a very prominent member of society; and we know that his movements are being carefully watched as an indicator of the situation in Macao. We agree with his judgement that it would be undesirable for him to make arrangements at present for the families to come to Hong Kong.
4. The Consul called on the Governor of Macao yesterday and made it clear that in view of the Portuguese Government's request for assistance the time had come for the Governor to start taking him into his confidence. The Governor appeared to accept this. He said, however,
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