TNAG-1626-FCO40-2240-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1987 — Page 84

(c)

CONFIDENTIAL

We know

that at

dual nationality.

one point the

Chinese were insisting that an arrangement similar to the Hong Kong solution must be adopted (ie the Chinese recognise Hong Kong people's British passports as travel documents for some purposes). However at the sixth meeting of the Joint

Liaison Group, the Chinese told us informally that they

expected the nationality question

be "resolved in the

Portuguese favour".

are not yet sure what this means

practice.

We

to

in

Lesser difficulties had arisen over the lack of suitable

local (i.e. ethnic Chinese) administrators in Macau; the position of the Catholic Church; the role of the Portuguese

language;

the continuation of

cultural Portuguese influence. These issues reflect the Portuguese wish to leave

"with dignity".

and

THE HONG KONG ANGLE

4.

is

Arrangements for Macau will be scrutinised closely in Hong Kong as soon as they are made public. Any belief that Macau getting a better deal than Hong Kong would be bad for confidence in Hong Kong. We emphasised to the Chinese the need to take account of confidence in Hong Kong in shaping a

shaping a Macau agreement and they seem

to have taken the point well.

5.

a

more

The nationality issue may be particularly delicate for us in terms of Macau/Hong Kong comparisons. Under Portuguese nationality

law Macanese holders of Portuguese

are in passports favourable position than are BDTCs under UK law as far as access to the metropolitan country is concerned. Since they also have access to the Community as nationals of a member state for EC purposes, we have a difficult situation in which Macanese holders of Portugeuse passports can come to the UK to live and work, but Hong Kong holders of British passports cannot. We have already signalled our concern, in an EC context, at the possibility of an influx of Macau residents to the EC. The Portuguese have told us that they are considering

CONFIDENTIAL