TNAG-0035-FCO40-71-Relations-with-Macao-1968 — Page 49

COAFIURT IAL

3.

classified Seoret, a mamber of files, recent Intela and

Guidanes telegrame classified up to Confidential, and the personal belongings of the Consulate staff. Such sa rnnouncement sight also be taken as indicating that we were intending to withdrew from the area and have a bad effect on public confidence in Hong Kong » In answer to any questions by the press we could contime to say that a decision about the future of the post would be taken when conditions improved. Meanwhile, we had paid off the locally engaged Consulate staff.

8. There is also the important question of how to retrieve the files and other possessions from the Consulate. Hong

then Er. Rodgers

Kong consider that it would be very dangerous to sand one

of our own officials to Enono to collect these since this

might well be the signal for further anti-British denon strations at which the Smoso Communists are so adept. Am alternative possibility might be to ask the Portuguese suthorities in Bacas for their assistance. saw the Portuguese Ambassador on 8 June to protest against the Portuguese failure to provide adequate protection for our Consulate, the Ambassador claimed full protection had been given • The Portuguese Foreign Minister also made a public statement to the same effect. Kr. Rodgers has suggested that we should take the Portuguese at their word and ask them to help us to transfer our files and other stores from our Consulate in Macao te liong Kong. have secured the removal of the olassified docurenta we

should not inform the fortuguese authorities of our intention to close the Consulate since this might, in their view, detract from their obligation to provide protection.

9. There will be a number of ada inistrative problema connected with closure of the Consulate, paying off the staff and disposing of the building. These points will be pursued separately by D.$.4.0.

Until we

CONFIDENTIAL

(E. Belland)

28 Jung. 1967