TNAG-1148-FCO40-1428-Effect-on-Hong-Kong-of-the-Portuguese-and-Spanish-accession--1982 — Page 42

RESTRICTED

British Trade Commission in Hong Kong

Cha FTSTAPICTA÷laalaaTotal=AUSAIZ =RMNOOLKOAATA T -Hongko

Mail Address GPO Box No 528 Hong Kong

Telex HX 73031 Cable Address Uktrade Hong Kong Telephone 5-230176

9th Floor Bank of America Tower 12 Harcourt Road Hong Kong

P J Williamson Esq

Hong Kong and General Department

FCO

frem Patrick,

Your reference

02211

R+R R+ R to me J29:3

Mick on 11 Our reference M 120/1(A) MIK onli Some at 5 Date

wwf 16031/3

PORTUGUESE ACCESSION TO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

17 March 1982

See R

FREE MOVEMENT

In your letter of 11 February you asked whether it would be possible to obtain an estimate of the percentage of the population of Macao who were naturalised Portuguese.

2.

Given that Paul Hare reported in his letter of 27 January to Broucher that the Government in Lisbon were unable to hazard a guess, you will not be surprised to learn that the question has caused considerable heart searching among our contacts in Macao. The latest official Macao statistics indicate a total population of about 284,000. However this is based on a projection of the 1970 census figure of 248,636. But the authorities in Macao say that they assume for planning purposes that the current population of Macao totals approximately 400,000.

3.

Of these 400,000 approximately 96% are Chinese. Of the remaining 4% perhaps three-quarters are of Portuguese origin giving a figure of about 9-10,000 people with genuine links with Portugal. However until the passage of the recent Portuguese Nationality Bill, all persons born in Macao were entitled to a Portuguese passport. Not many of them will have applied for this document or could produce the necessary evidence of birth but Dr Rangel, the Secretary for Education, Culture and Tourism of the Macao Government, tells me that he believes that as many as 30,000 inhabitants could have claim ô a Portuguese passport.

4.

7

Thus, for what it is worth, your figure for planning purposes probably lies somewhere between 10,000 and 30,000. I am sorry I cannot | be more accurate but the Portuguese authorities cannot be more specific.

Your eve

Such

DM March

Senior Trade Commissioner

cc: P W Hare Esq, Lisbon

Mr Synnott, SED

Mr Cox, FED

Mir Broucher, ECD(E)

RJT McLaren, PA. HKG

Every effort is made to ensure that the information given herein is accurate, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions in that information and no responsibility is accepted in regard to the standing of any firms, companies or individuals mentioned.

DECADTANDD