TNAG-0035-FCO40-71-Relations-with-Macao-1968 — Page 141

File No............

Mr..

Mr...

W.S.Carter

Mr.......

Mr..

Permt. U.S. of S.

Parly. U.S. of S.

Minister of State

Sir

Secretary of State

Your Reference........

32

2014

Date.... January, 1967.

DRAFT

SUBMISSION

Flag A

FURTHER ACTION

EVACUATION OF MACAO.

accede to

Ministers decided on the 17th January to eeeep

To provide

a request from the Portuguese Government, transit facilities

through Hong Kong for civilian Portuguese nationals evacuated

from Macao. The Portuguese Government has been so informed,

and detailed arrangements are now being settled in Hong Kong

between the

General.

2.

Authoritie

ties there and the Portuguese Consul-

The British Ambassador in Lisbon has suggested

(Lisbon telegram No. 27) that, although no request has been

(numbering about 1,000)- received from the Portuguese in regard to military personnel, ersonnel

consideration should be given to accepting Portuguese soldiers

without their arms, if the need arises and there is no other

He

avenue of escape. The Ambassador, adds that it seems most

unlikely that the Portuguese Government would order any form

of military resistance to the Chinese.

Parabootar Portage tony prezrad 3. MA Portuguese troopship (the "TIMOR") is in

Hong Kong at the present time. Her capacity is 443 passengers

on a long voyage but she could take many more on her deck$.

She can however only lie off Macao in Chinese-claimed waters

and has to be loaded (as is her normal practice) by lighter

or launch. This should not present insuperable difficulties

if the Chinese do not wish to interfere with the departure

of military personnel.

(8444) Dd. 197431 25M 3/66 S.P.&D. Gp.652

/We