TNAG-1172-FCO40-1453-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 104

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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Stakes

CONFIDENTAL

343

BRIEF

CC:

Miss Evans, ECD(E) Mr Morris, HKGD

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO PORTUGAL, 24-26 JUNE

MACAU

POINTS TO MAKE

1. with regard to our relations with China over Hong Kong., helpful to know

of

Насам

2. not acceptable to us for Macao to be given a more On accession,

within the EEC

favourable status than Hong Kong.

See BJOA

a

BACKGROUND.

Presend String wers Lyal wich

1. Macao is a small territory of only 6 square miles

on the southern coast of China. Her principle economic

activity was an entrepôt for trade with China, her

industry confined to the production of fireworks etc.

Major trade was always conducted through Hong Kong.

More recently, 80% of the economy has been industry

based; textiles and tourism have overtaken gambling as

the mainstay of the economy.

2.

The Portuguese received permission from the Chinese

authorities in Canton to establish a settlement in Macao

in 1557. The status of Macao was not clarified legally

until 1887 when, by treaty, the Chinese confirmed the

'perpetual occupation and government of Macao and its

dependencies by Portugal as any other Portuguese possession'

3. There was clearly discussion of Macao in the

negotiations leading to the establishment of Sino-Portuguese

diplomatic relations in February 1979.

According to one

account there was a confidential understanding that Macao

is Chinese territory to be handed back at an undefined

of

future date.

علاء

4.

al's

Our interest in Macao is linked with Portuguese

accession to the EEC, We are anxious that on accession,

no special rights should be conferred on the Maconese

/which

•CANFIDENTAL

>

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