to lay on these stores. The Portuguese Ambassador seid that
the evacuees would be prepared to accept fairly rough and ready
accommodation for the few days they were in Hong Kong. He had
already assured us that his Government would assume full financial
He still thought that preparations could continue
responsibility.
to be made without a public announcement. Mr. Hohler assured
the Ambassador that we would certainly consider his suggestion.
The Mbassador then made a strong personal pleau for us
to reconsider the decision not to arrange transport facilities
from Encao to Hong Kong. He said that he did not know precisely
the conditions in Macao end it might be that there was sufficient
shipping available in Macao. However, the fact that he had been
twice instructed to make this request suggested to him that there
wes a real need for help from Hong Kong in arranging transport.
With all the resources at their disposal, surely the Hong Kong
authorities could provide some help.
Front
He
Bla Mr. Hobler explained the difficulties coning us.
said that we wished to avoid risking e dispute with the Chinese
over the delineation of territorial waters, that we did not wish
to give the Chinese grounds for stating that we were intervening
in the Macao dispute, and we wished to avoid any possible challengi
by the Chinese to Hong Kong vessels approaching Macao.
The Abassador said, again speaking peracnally, that he
thought the Chinese hd no intention of making an armed attack
on Macac. They would be glad that the Portuguese were leaving
and would not, he thought, wish to interfere. Could we not
instruct the captains of the vessels involved to avoid incidents
with the Chinese by turning back if challenged? He did not see
why the moveme t of vessels from Hong Kongacross these waters
CONFIDENTIAL
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