TNAG-0641-FCO40-789-Discussions-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macao-for-proposed-constru-1977 — Page 19

CONFIDENTI AL

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Portugal to conclude an agreement (there would be phased

"unfreezing" of pensions). It would be premature to inform

the Portuguese Government or British Community in Portugal

of this during Mr Judd's visit.

Macao Airport

11. In November 1976, the Portuguese requested the British

Government's agreement to discussions between the Hong Kong

and Macao authorities about the proposal to build an inter-

national airport at Macao. Col Leandro, Governor of Macao,

seems to be the driving force behind this. The FCO replied

that while construction of an airport was primarily a

domestic matter for Macao, it had significant implications

for the Hong Kong Government's current and future provision

for air services, not least in the co-ordination of air

traffic control. The FCO would be happy for the Hong Kong

and Macao authorities to discuss but considered it would be

premature until the attitude of the People's Republic of China

had been formally ascertained.

12.

The Portuguese Ambassador in London subsequently expressed

his own reservations about the Macao proposal; he said that

lack of diplomatic relations between Portugal and the PRC might

make it difficult to obtain PRC views. For reasons of Anglo-

Portuguese relations and Hong Kong/Macao relations, the FCO

prefer that the proposal founder on PRC rather than British or

Hong Kong objections. We consider the Portuguese could obtain

PRC views if they wanted. We therefore intend to make clear to

the Portuguese Embassy that we look to their authorities to

establish the Chinese view.

Southern European Department 8 June 1977

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