TNAG-1459-FCO40-1983-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1986 — Page 21

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23/10

CONFIDENTIAL

or

o Softe

Cum.

10 DOWNING STREET

LONDON SWIA 2AA

HKK 2015

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

From the Private Secretary 25 OCT 1986

Dear

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

Polini

PA

Acting Taken

25

10

Mr Neilson (SED)

PS

PS/Lady Y PS/MrSC PS/PUS

60

Mr Derek Thomas Mr Ratford

Mr Reeve

21 October 1986

+ Has SAID, CAFD,

FED, SEAD

HKD, FED,

+ Mr Houston

PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF PORTUGAL

The Prime Minister saw President Soares for a talk this morning. The President was accompanied by the Portuguese Ambassador and by his Private Secretary.

Mozambique

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22/10

The Prime Minister said that President Machel's death was a great tragedy. We had no evidence that it was anything

She was other than an accident caused by pilot error. concerned that Machel's successor would be more of a hard line Marxist, and would put an end to Machel's efforts to draw Mozambique closer to the West. We had provided Machel with modest assistance to encourage this process. We had also urged the South African government not to intervene in Mozambique. But greater instability now seemed inevitable, with Renamo strengthening its position further.

President Soares said that the Portuguese Government had no information about the accident.

He agreed that President Machel's death would bring greater instability to Southern Africa. He also agreed with the Prime Minister that a successor was likely to be drawn from those who had been critical of Machel's opening to the West. South Africa bore heavy responsibility for the recent deterioration in Mozambique. The Nkomati Accord could have contributed to

But it now seemed clear that greater stability in Mozambique. the South Africans had continued all along to support and encourage Renamo. President Soares continued that he had maintained particularly close contact with Snr. Veloso who had been the main architect of a policy of dialogue between Mozambique and South Africa. Sadly he was now likely to lose his influence.

Angola

President Soares commented that the situation in Angola might also become more difficult. Although Portugal's official policy was to support the Angolan Government his personal belief was that Savimbi was a great African leader. Machel had always maintained contact with Savimbi and could

CONFIDENTIAL