TNAG-1459-FCO40-1983-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1986 — Page 71

CONFIDENTIAL

GRS 200 CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 1513

OF 16095OZ MAY 86

INFO PR•HORITY PEKING, LISBON

NEGOTIATIONS ON MACAU

1. THE HONG KONG STANDARD OF 16 MAY CARRIES A FRONT-PAGE ARTICLE ON THE SINO-PORTUGUESE NEGOTINATIONS ON MACAU'S FUTURE. THIS QUOTES HIGH LEVEL MACAU GOVERNMENT SOURCES'' AS SAYING ''OUR NEGOTIATORS WILL TELL THEIR CHINESE COUNTERPARTS THAT, THEY HAVE NO OPINION ON THE SUBJECT AND ASK TO DRAFT A JOINT DECLARATION **N WHATEVER WAY THEY LIKE. THE ONLY THING WE PORTUGUESE WILL DO *S PUT OUR SIGNATURE ON T.'' THE STANDARD CLAHMS THAT THESE TACTICS WERE WORKED OUT BY THE RECENTLY RETIRED GOVERNOR, ALMEIDA E COSTA,

AND HIS CABINET.

2. WHILE WE FIND MT SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE EXTENT OF THE PORTUGUESE NEGOTIATORS' BRIEF FOR THE FORTHCOMING TALKS, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR FEAR THAT THE PORTUGUESE WOULD NOT TAKE THE NEGOTIATIONS AS SERIOUSLY AS WE WOULD WISH AND THAT THERE *PS SOME RISK OF THE SINO-PORTUGUESE AGREEMENT BEING DEFICIENT IN A WAY THAT MIGHT AFFECT CONFIDENCE HERE N HONG KONG. THIS ARTICLE REMINDS US OF THE NEED TO GET ACROSS TO THE CHINESE AND TO THE PORTUGUESE WHEN OPPORTUNITIES ARISE, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MACAU TALKS FOR HONG KONG.

AKERS-JONES

MINIMAL

HKD WED

NEWS

HRK 02013

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

- 3 JUN 1986

THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED

PA

FAB3166

CONFIDENTIAL

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