TNAG-1626-FCO40-2240-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1987 — Page 134

GOVERNMENT DECLARATION ON MACAU

Recently there have been various declarations and commentaries

about the existence and content of a treaty or agreement on Macau signed in 1979 between the Government of Portugal and the PRC. this context the Government wishes to make clear the following:

In

1. When the 10th Constitutional Government took office on 6 November

1985 it found on the files of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a

Record of Conversations on the question of Macau between the Chinese and Portuguese Ambassadors in Paris, acting in the name of their respective Governments, which was signed in Paris on 8 February 1979. As is well known, on the same date was signed and published a joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Portugal.

2. While the 10th Government plainly has no responsibility for the negotiations which led to the signature of the Record of Conversations referred to in para 1, it has not previously divulged the content from motives of continuity of State interests and

respect for previous Governments' positions, as well as in deference

to the wishes of the Chinese Government.

3. The Record of Conversations notes that: "The Chinese Ambassador

declared the following to be his Government's position:

1. Macau is part of Chinese territory and will be restored

to China. The date and modalities of this restoration can be decided in the future, at a time judged opportune by the Governments of the two countries and through negotiations.

2. Until the restoration, the Portuguese authorities in Macau should respect and protect the rights and interests

of the Chinese inhabitants of Macau."

"The Portuguese Ambassador declared that the Portuguese Government agrees in principle with the Chinese Government's position. This clearly derives from the text on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Portugal, approved by the Council of Ministers on 14 June 1978 which states: the Portuguese Constitution does not include Macau in Portuguese territory, considering it

merely as a territory under Portuguese administration. The

/Portuguese