TNAG-1145-FCO40-1425-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1982 — Page 108

Status of Macau

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BACKGROUND NOTE ON MACAU

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1. Macau was founded as a Portuguese settlement in 1557. Treaty of Peking of 1887 confirmed perpetual Portuguese occupa- tion of Macau, though China afterwards denounced the treaty as unequal and regards Macau as Chinese territory.

2. The political upheavals of 1974 in Portugal led to con- siderable changes in the administration of Macau. From being regarded as an Overseas Portuguese Province integrated with the Portuguese state, Macau, in early 1976, was defined as a "collective entity with internal legislative sovereignty" which, with the exception of the principles laid down in the Constitutional laws of the Portuguese Republic, would enjoy "administrative, economic, financial and legislative autonomy" Moves which had begun in 1973 to introduce an element of elec- tion to Macau's Legislative Assembly were extended in 1976 to allow for the direct election of six members to the 17-man Assembly and to give the franchise to Macau's Chinese and foreign residents in addition to Portuguese citizens.

3. Further proposed changes to the Organic Law of Macau, which might have the effect of producing a majority of directly-elected members to the Legislative Assembly and of endowing the Assembly with powers to dismiss the government, are being resisted, not least by Chinese within and without Macau.

4.

In the present Constitution of Portugal, Macau is described as "territory under Portuguese administration". Its citizens are full citizens of Portugal, vote in Portuguese elections and have complete freedom of movement to the Portuguese mainland. The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Portugal on 8 February 1979 is not seen by the Portuguese as implying any legal or constitutional change in the status of Macau. The statement announcing the establishment of diplomatic relations make's no reference to Macau. Reports that Portugal had reached a private understanding with China over the status and future of Macau have not been confirmed.

Macau's relations with China

5.

In line with the improved state of relations between China and Hong Kong, Sino-Macau relations are currently good. The present Governor of Macau, General Egidio, made an official visit to China in March 1980, the first by a Governor of Macau for some considerable time. The Governor of Guangdong Province, Xi Zhongxun, visited Macau in June 1980. The Chinese are satis- fied with the status quo in Macau and do not favour moves towards political reforms. As in Hong Kong, China is interested in investing in industries in Macau and is developing a special economic zone, just outside Macau at Zhuhai. Macau's plans to build an international airport are said to have won Chinese approval. China's dealings with the Macau Government are channel- led through unofficial representatives.

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