CATAMP (2)
Background
SINO-PORTUGUESE NEGOTIATIONS
CONFIDENTIAL
1.
In June 1986, Portugal and China began negotiations on the future of Macau. There have been three formal rounds so far, all in Peking. Following the last round in October 1986, a joint working group was established to review all draft documents submitted by the two sides during the negotiations, and to work towards drafting an
eventual agreement.
2.
We know little of what has passed between the two sides but both have told us separately that the Joint Declaration on Hong Kong is the model for the eventual agreement. The Chinese seem to have taken this for granted from the outset, thereby initially causing some offence to Portuguese pride. For their part the Portuguese approach to the negotiations seems to have been ill prepared and with no coherent policy or objectives.
3.
It is clear that the difficult points in the negotiations
have been:
(a)
Handover date: The Portuguese wanted a date early in the twenty-first century. The Chinese made it a point of principle that it should be no later than the turn of the century. The two sides seem set to settle on December 1999, apparently after the Portuguese President decided to
accommodate Chinese wishes.
(b)
Nationality: Some 85,000 Macanese might be entitled to Portuguese nationality and Portugal wishes them to be able to retain their nationality after Macau is restored to China. In effect this would mean they would be dual nationals, as
The Chinese the Chinese consider them to be their nationals. remain firmly opposed to dual nationality and are apparently insisting that an arrangement similar to the Hong Kong
CONFIDENTIAL
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