TNAG-0035-FCO40-71-Relations-with-Macao-1968 — Page 150

Cypher

CONFIDENTIAL

OUTWARD TELEGRAM

FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)

TO HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)

Sent 19th January, 1967. 23.00 hrs.

28

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63

20 JANIO/

IMMEDIATE

CONFIDENTIAL

No. 123.

LAST

RCF

4.EX

RZE

ວ

Addressed to Governor Hong Kong. Repeated for information to Peking.

#

#1

" Lisbon (Saving).

Macao.

In view of the situation in Macao, we think it appropriate to plan for the possible evacuation of the British community and the Consul and his staff in the event of a Portuguese withdrawal.

2*

It would be helpful if someone from the Political Adviser's Office could go to Macao as soon as possible to discuss the situation with the Consul. In particular he should establish;

(i) how many British or Hong Kong residents there are now

in Macao. Our records, which date from 1964, show

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

12 Europeans and 27 Chinese, all apparently on

Hong Kong passports.

We believe that there may be in

addition a number of unregistered British and Canadian citizens;

what means the Consul would have of warning and assembling this community in the event of an evacuation;

whether he thinks that the families of his staff should go on local leave in Hong Kong until the situation becomes clearer;

whether he would be able to get advance notice from the Portuguese authorities of a decision to evacuate.

3. In the event of a decision to withdraw in an emergency, would it be possible for you to arrange for a suitable vessel, official or otherwise, to go to Macao to pick up the starr and members of the British community wishing to leave? We realise that this suggestion rather contradicts the line we have taken with the Portuguese. But the situation is different in that it affects the transport of British subjects in an emergency.

4. Please inform us what communications exist between Hong Kong and the Consul in Macao. We know that at present Macao hold no cyphers. Would you recommend that they should be restored for a limited period?

CONFIDENTIAL

15.

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