TNAG-1223-FCO40-1533-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1983 — Page 34

CONFIDENTIAL

REV

MKK

020

15

Mr B11 16tt Mack nicht

Elliott

PS/Mr Lucé,

CHINA:

H

1) Thanks

т

2). Presume we can't regur

Растите

Can we

?

the Wile, sithat?

ケ

0

a precedent

o ralme

SPECIAL REGIMES: MACAO

16

RNL

1. Mr Luce has commented on my minute of 8 July, saying that perhaps we could find out more about the secret understanding between Portugal and China referred to in para 5 of the minute.

2. Neither we nor the Americans have had any firm confirmation of such an arrangement. We suspect that what exists is an oral, and temporary, understanding reached by the two sides when diplo- matic relations were established in 1979. This was what was implied by the Governor of Macao in a recent conversation on the subject with the Governor of Hong Kong. Then, as in previous reports, the terms of the arrangement appeared to be that Macao is regarded as Chinese territory under Portuguese administration. When referring to the possibility of future change (in the con- text of which China was mentioned as the ''only destination'' for Macao), the Governor of Macao alluded to ''certain procedures'' that would have to be agreed in order to ensure that the transfer was orderly and not sudden.

3.

Portugal has not formally renounced the treaty of 1887 referred to in my earlier minute.

4.

We have mentioned the conversation between the Governor of Macao and the Governor of Hong Kong separately to the Private Office.

11 July 1983

cc: PS/PUS

Mr Giffard Mr Donald

Planning Staff HKD

CONFIDENTIAL

PA B Thomson

Far Eastern Dept