TNAG-1459-FCO40-1983-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1986 — Page 70

GRS 220

CONFIDENTIAL

FM UKMIS NEW YORK

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 525

OF 2017O9Z MAY 86

CONFIDENTIAL

INFO ROUTINE LISBON, PEKING, HONG KONG

Mrbetts

YOUR TELNO 77 TO LISBON: FUTURE OF MACAO

1. PORTUGUESE HERE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT FIRST ROUND OF TALKS WITH

CHINESE IS NOW LIKELY TO BEGIN IN LATE JUNE RATHER THAN LATE MAY AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED PRINCIPALLY BECAUSE ZHOU NAN, WHO WILL HEAD THE CHINESE TEAM, WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE EARLIER. (WE UNDERSTAND THAT TALKS AND TIMING HAVE SINCE BEEN OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED). THE PORTUGUESE PRESENTLY FORESEE A SERIES OF 5 NEGOTIATING ROUNDS TO BE CONCLUDED BEFORE THE END OF 1987, ALL TAKING PLACE IN PEKING

EXCEPT THE PENULTIMATE ROUND WHICH WOULD BE IN LISBON.

2. PORTUGUESE SAY THEIR NEGOTIATING BRIEF IS QUOTE EXTREMELY

FLEXIBLE UNQUOTE: THEIR MAIN AIMS WILL BE TO OBTAIN A NUMBER OF CULTURAL CONCESSIONS, IN PARTICULAR THE MAINTENANCE OF A CULTURAL OFFICE IN MACAO AND CERTAIN FREEDOMS FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

SINCE PORTUGUESE BUSINESS INTERESTS IN MACAO ARE LIMITED, ECONOMIC ISSUES WOULD PLAY A FAR LESS IMPORTANT ROLE THAN WAS THE CASE IN

THE HONG KONG NEGOTIATIONS.

3. OUR POSITIVE RESPONSE TO PORTUGUESE REQUEST REPORTED IN TEL UNDER REFERENCE WAS MUCH APPRECIATED.

4. FOR THE RECORD, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEW PORTUGUESE AMBASSADOR TO THE UN WILL BE THE PRESENT POLITICAL DIRECTOR, JOAO MATOS PROENCA.

MAXEY

HKW 02073 RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

- 4 JUN 1986

MINIMAL

ECD

SED

FED

нко

CONFIDENTIAL

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