GRS 290
RESTRICTED
FM LISBON
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELNO 322
OF 241442Z OCTOBER 86
RESTRICTED
RACK 020/3
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
14 NOV 1986
bb
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, HONG KONG
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
NEGOTIATIONS ON MACAU
1. THE PORTUGUESE PRESS IS QUOTING SOURCES IN THE NEGOTIATING TEAM
AS CONFIRMING THAT CHINA HAS AGREED THAT THE TRANSFER OF
ADMINISTRATION OF MACAU SHOULD TAKE PLACE AFTER 1997, BUT HAS
REJECTED THE SUGGESTION THAT IT SHOULD BE DELAYED BEYOND 2000.
2. THE SAME SOURCES ARE QUOTED AS SAYING THAT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN
REACHED ON THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH. A GROUP
HAS BEEN SET UP TO DRAFT A FINAL AGREEMENT AND TO CARRY ON
DISCUSSIONS OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUE, WHICH IS SAID TO BE THE NATIONALITY STATUS OF MANY MACAU RESIDENTS, QUOTE SOME TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF WHOM HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE PORTUGUESE CITIZENSHIP
UNQUOTE.
3. IT IS INVISAGED BY THE PRESS AND CONFIRMED BY OUR CONTACTS HERE, THAT AN AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO BE SIGNED EARLY IN 1987, AND THAT THE CHINESE ARE PRESSING BECAUSE THEY FEAR A POLITICAL CRISIS IN
PORTUGAL MIGHT BRING ANOTHER GOVERNMENT TO POWER WHICH MIGHT DELAY
THE CONCLUSION OF THE AGREEMENT.
COMMENT
4. THE DELAY IN THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY AND ZHOU NAN'S VISIT
HERE NEXT MONTH ARE BEING PRESENTED AS CHINESE CONCESSION TO
PORTUGAL, BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE TERMS OF THE FINAL
AGREEMENT ARE TO BE ANY MORE FAVOURABLE THAN THOSE OFFERED TO HONG
KONG.
SIMPSON ORLEBAR
YYYY
LPLNAN 2750
LIMITED
FED
SED
HKD
MR. WILSON
RESTRICTED
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