TNAG-1172-FCO40-1453-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 18

MESSAGE FEP018 FROM NDT907 2202

NKA977 NDT907

(379

2211 24/06

SPF, NNP, NJP,SES,SEU,GFE,GRP,WTQ, NEP BRF

мен

04011

2203 JUN 24

242051

:PROAERIAL:

flasisty

PRO NEWSCASTS

FOR NEWSBUSIĮ ATTN CHINESE SERVICE EX POTTINGER LISBON. 24.6.82. FOREIGN MINISTER REQUESTED TAKE ONE.

CUE: THE CHINESE FORCIGN MINISTER HUAN HUA HAS LEFT LISBON AFTER A TWO DAY OFFICIAL VISIT HERE CEMENTING TIES BETWEEN PORTUGAL AND CHINA DURING WHICH HE WAS RECEIVED BY HIS PORTUGUESE COUNTERPART, PRIME MINISTER PINTO BALSIMAO AND THE PRESIDENT GEN RAMALHO EANES. END CUE.

ON HIS LAST DAY IN PORTUGAL THE MINISTER SAID HE HAD DISCUSSED THE POSITION OF MACAO, THE PORTUGUESE ADMINISTERED ENCLAVE ON THE CHINESE MAINLAND AND REAFFRIMED THE STATUS QUD OF THE OUTPOST. BUT, IN REMARKS APPARENTLY MADE WITH AN EYE TO THE FUTURE

OF THE BRITISH CROWN COLONY OF HONG KONG, HE SAID ANOTHER ARRANEGE- MENT MIGHT BE WORKED OUT WITH THE CONSENT OF THE INHABITANTS AND THE PORTUGUESE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE ENCLAVE. THE MINISTER WAS CAREFUL TO STRESS THAT SUCH A SOLUTION SHOULD NOT AFFECT THE LIVING STANDARDS OF THE POPULATION OR THE INTERESTS OF FOREIGN INVESTORS IN MACAU.

MR HUA'S WORDS DID NOT DRAW ANY IMMEDIATE COMMENT FROM THE PORTUGUESE AIUTHORITIES BUT PRIVATELY I WAS TOLD THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT BELEIVE THE CHINESE AIM TO ALTER THE SITUATION OF MACAU NOW OR IN THE FUTURE WHATEVER THE OUTCOME OF THE HONG KONG LEASE NEGOTIATIONS. INDEED A SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WHO RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A VISIT TO MACAU AND HONG KONG SAID HIS IMPRESSION WAS THAT WHILE PEKING WAS UNLIKELY TO CHANGE ITS APPROACH ON THE QUESTION OF THE UNJUST TREATY+ PRESENTLY GOVERNING BRITIAN'S POSESSION OF HONG KONG THE CHINESE WOULD MOST LIKELY BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE BRITISH REMAIN WITHOUT ANY FORMAL TREATY NEGOTIATIONS.

MORE

==MORE

But Portuguese Forzign Minister

Sand Chumvi had un randend

MESSAGE FEP019 FROM NDT908 2223 NKA778 NDT908

SPP,NNP,NJP,NEP,GFE,SES,SEU, WTQ, ORF

BRF

2223 JUN 24

2228 24/06

242111 :PROAERIAL:

PRO NEWSCASTS

FOR NEWSBUSH ATTN CHINESE SERVICE. 24.6.82. FOREIGN MINISTER REQUESTED TAKE TWO

DURING THE 4/ HOUR VISIT CHINESE AND PORTUGUESE MINSITERIAL DELEGATIONS DREW UP AN ACCORD COVERING ECONOMIC, INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION WHICH WILL BE SIGNED IN SEPTEMBER.

THE TWO DELEGATIONS EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT TRADE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, VALUED THIS YEAR BY PORTUGAL AT A BILLION ESCUDOS, WOULD CONTINUE TO EXPAND. THE BALANCE PRESENTLY FAVOURS THE CHINESE. DURING HIS MEETINGS WITH PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER DEVOTED MUICH OF HIS TIME EXCHANGING VIEWS ON INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING NAMIBIA, AFGHANISTAN, THE MID- EAST SOUTH WEST ASIA AND THE NORTH-SOUTH DIALOGUE.

PRAISING HIS GUEST AT A FORMAL BANQWUET IN HIS HONDUR GIVEN BY THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT FOREIGN MINISTER FUTSCHER PEREIRA SAID MR HUA'S VISIT WAS THE HIGH POINT IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES ESTABLISHED THREE YEARS AGO.

+IN A WORLD PREOCCUPIED WITH TENSIONS CHINA HAS OCCUPIED A POSITION OF GROWING INFLUENCE, A NATURAL REFELCTION OF HER IMPORTANCE AND POWER AS A NATION, BUT A RECOGNITION ALSO OF HER **1 EFFORTS OVER THE PAST DECADES AT DEVELOPING HERSELF.+, THE

PORTUGUESE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID.

DURING THE VISIT THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT COURSES IN THE PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE WERE TO BE REACTIVATED AT SEVERAL CHINESE UNIVERSITIES.ENDIT.

==REUTER