TNAG-1145-FCO40-1425-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1982 — Page 89

RESTRICTED

H Synnott Esq

SED

FCO

Dear Hilary,

attached

Mr. Youre

British Embassy Mr Xoar

LISBON

5/7

30 June 1982

Havese 020/3

Pr

нин

^ Pas 1318

VISIT OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER PO TORTUGAL

012

Mr. Male 5/7

Pave 4 charpes the stration somehet.

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Sentoz

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w/ 2717

1. Our telho 123 refers. Huang lun paid an official v. it to Portugal from 22 to 25 June at the invitation of the Tonguese Foreign Minister.

2. It was the first visit by a Chinese Foreign Minister to Portugal since diplomatic relations were re-established in February 1979. Huang Hua met President Ramalho Eanes, the Prime Minister, Finto Balsemão, the Vice Frime Minister, Freitas do Amaral, the Foreign Minister, Futscher Fereira, the Fresident of the Assembly, Oliveira Dias, the Secretary General of the Socialist Party, Mário Soares, and the Mayor of Lisbon, Krus Abecassis. He also visited the Gulbenkian Foundation and the Lisnave shipyards.

3.

Huang Hua said on arrival that the objective of his visit was to consolidate and improve relations between the two countries. Bilateral relations at the moment have little substance: bilateral trade reached about £8 million in 1981, with a slight balance in favour of Portugal, and there is little political contact. The two sides decided to increase economic and cultural relations, and to exchange political visits. An economic, industrial and technical agreement was announced and will be signed in September. Hung Hua invited the Portuguese Foreign Minister to visit Chine.

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As we have reported Huang Hua did not raise the status of Macao with the Portuguese Foreign Minister or Prime Minister. Futscher Pereira referred to it in his speech at the dinner he gave for the Chinese Minister, saying that "the centuries of living together that Portugal has experienced with the Chinese people in Macao will continue to be a symbol of agreement which reflects the wish for cooperation between our two countries." The Chinese did not respond to this reference. The President, who has a special constitutional responsibility for Macao, however, raised its status with Huang Ilua, and the Chinese Foreign Minister later told the press: for the moment, the position of China is to maintain the status quo in Macao. In the future we could study with the population

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