TNAG-0752-FCO40-956-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 100

Mr Murray

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK Ovol!

RECEIVI

25 JUL 1978

DANK OFFLER

no. $1

REGISTRY

Action Taken

INDEX

PA

No K

FLAG A

FLAG B

58

FLAG C

G

FLAG D

ST

FLAG E

HONG KONG AND MACAU

1. In his telegram number 424 of 18 July, HM Ambassador in Peking reinforces the recommendation in his telegram number 420 of 14 July that we should approach the Portuguese Government again to stress our concern that they should, if possible, avoid the issue of Macau in their discussions with the Chinese over the establishment of diplomatic relations. This follows the discussion between the Political Adviser and the NCNA representative in Hong Kong, reported in Hong Kong telegrams numbers 896 and 897 of 17 July, from which it emerged that Li Chu-Sheng was genuinely surprised to find that the issue had been raised, and thought that it was contrary to China's policy for the issue to have been made part of the negotiations over diplomatic relations.

2.

Notwithstanding Li's reaction, there can be no doubt that the Chinese Ambassador in Paris did ask that the Portuguese

should acknowledge Macau to be Chinese territory. But I am not at all sure, all the same, that we need to take any further action vis-à-vis the Portuguese. The Secretary of State made our position quite clear to the Portuguese Foreign Minister during their discussion on 30 June. Subsequently, as reported in his telegram number 231 of 11 July, HM Ambassador in Lisbon discussed the question again with the Political Director of the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Lord Moran's report of this conversation shows that the Portuguese seem clearly to understand the significance of the problem. Both the Political Director and the Foreign Minister have given clear undertakings to consult us before taking any action. The message should have been further pressed home by the Governor of Macau, who returned to Lisbon at the weekend for consultations.

CONFIDENTIAL

13.