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sc. Mr Thompson
HK & GD.
Miss Milly - Kes Pept
3/3
DM March Esq OBE
Far Eastern Department
4/7/70
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
My
Му дейт Делок, о
Enter
(2
British Embassy LISBON
REJEMIDTIN 1975,
рабо
c.c. SWED
Lac f
Mr. Ratin Mi. Enigman OIR, Mi. DiAWHID
REGISTRY No. 16 OIR, Mi.
1973
20.....
WSP3|301|1
16/1
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LISBON TELNO 2: PORTUGUESE/ CHINESE RELATIONS
1. We have not so far received an official text of the Portuguese Note.
The following is a translation of the text which appeared in
a number of the Lisbon evening papers of 6 January.
"In prosecution of the new Portuguese foreign policy the Portuguese Government have decided to add to its open policy of dialogue with all the countries of.the world regardless of their political and social systems.
"In this connection the Portuguese Government considers the establishment of normal relations with the Peoples' Republic of China, whose Government is the unique legitimate representative of the Chinese people, to be of major interest and relevance.
"On this basis, Portugal considers that Formosa (Taiwan) is an integral part of the Republic of China.(sic)
147
"The Fortuguese Government moreover considers that the territory of Macao could be the subject of negotiations at a moment convenient to the two Governments, bearing responsibility, meanwhile for the strict respect of the rights of Chinese citizens who live there."
2. It will not escape your notice that the Portuguese acknowledge- ment of the status of Taiwan is expressed, I suppose by accident, in terms which are not likely to endear them to the Government in Peking. It remains to be seen what the Chinese reaction will be. The Portuguese have previously expressed in general terms their desire for normal relations with Peking, but have never done it as formally as this. So far, if the Chinese have responded at all publicly, it has been to say that there was not point in them having relations with Lisbon until the process of decolonisation in Africe was complete.
c.c.
Peking
Chancery: Washington
Political Adviser, Hong Kong
Yours sincerely
Geraw
G E Clark
m. Bukch
m
33/1
Bane 11123/ m. Chatterjie o. r Piaz
Rulonry 22/
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