TNAG-1459-FCO40-1983-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1986 — Page 88

Counselor H of C

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CALL ON CHINESE AMBASSADOR: 15 APRIL

1.

Thank you for this brief. The Ambassador, who was very friendly, understands English and speaks it quite well, though he spoke through an interpreter part of the time.

2.

I carried out the instructions in FCO telno 169 to Canberra in respect of Hong Kong and the GATT, with the result already reported to you orally. H of C has telephoned HKD.

3.

I asked about Macau. The Ambassador said that during President Eanes's visit to Peking last autumn, it had been agreed there should be negotiations. There had been a preliminary discussion between the Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister and the Portuguese MFA at the time of President Soares's inauguration last month. Before the Portuguese could move, however, they had to appoint a new Governor for Macau: he understood the mission currently visiting Macau for consultation might be back at the end of this week.

The Chinese had said they would be ready to start negotiating in May if the Portuguese so wished. The venue would probably be Peking.

4.

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The Ambassador said the Chinese approach was similar to that over Hong Kong: "one country, two systems"

Many of the points for discussion would be the same as they were during the Hong Kong negotiations, but the negotiation should be easier since the Portuguese had already conceded sovereignty; Macau's population was smaller and it was less important. my questions about the desirable time for hand-over (1997 or before, or later) and about the likely form of a new administra- tion, he replied that these were both questions for the negotiation He gave the same answer to my question about whether the Chinese might regard all Macau's citizens as citizens of China.

However, he ennumerated the different classes of citizen presently in Macau which might suggest some Chinese predisposition to a Hong Kong style solution.

HKK02013.

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15 MAY 1986

15 April 1986

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MK O Simpson-Orlebar