TNAG-1626-FCO40-2240-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1987 — Page 9

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Also in Annex I, the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration stated that the majority of the members of the Macau SAR legislature would be returned through elections while the Sino-British agreement said only that the HK SAR would be constituted through elections. Commercial Radio-Chinese quoted a member of the Chinese negotiating team, Ke Zhengping, as saying tnat a small portion of the seats in the Macau SAR legislature would be appointed by the future chief executive after a consultation process.

The Economic Journal went on to point out the Annex I to the Sino-British Joint Declaration had stipulated that two international conventions on human rights would continue to be applicable in HK while the Sino-Portuguese pact had not mentioned the two conventions.

However, the Macau agreement had given an assurance to protect the interests of offsprings of the Portuguese in Macau. The HK agreement had made no reference to the interests of British offsprings in HK.

Also in Annex I, the Macau agreement had stated that the traditions and cultural heritage of the Portuguese in Macau would be protected in accordance with the law. The HK agreement had no such provisions.

Furthermore, the HK agreement had stated that troops sent by the central governemnt would be stationed in the HK SAR. The Macau agreement stated only that the central governemnt was responsible for the defence of the Macau SAR.

In the Portuguese memorandum on nationality, it was stated that Portuguese passports issued in Macau would continue to be valid. Holders of such passports would have the right of abode in Portugal. In the British memorandum, it was stated that there would be a new document for the BDTCs in HK. The new document did not entitle its holders to the right of abode in UK.

Annex to the Macau agreement stipulated that those born in Macau and those Portuguese sho had resided in Macau for seven years or more would be entitled to permanent Macau ID cards. The HK agreement had not mentioned UK citizens in HK.

There were mixed reactions in Macau to the agreement. The Chinese community generally reacted favourably while the minority Portuguese circles were cautious.

The HK Standard noted that emotions ranged from fear, anxiety, and complacency to sheer indifference in Macau. The man in the street was by and large indifferent. But the Macanese those of mixed descent

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were worried.

The paper noted that the general prediction among community leaders was that about 10,000 people, all in all, would leave the territory if they were not treated fairly.

Chairman of Macau's Legislative Assembly Carlos d'Assumpcao, told the media that the agreement had taken care of the interests of all parties, particularly the interests of Portuguese nationals.

The Acting Governor of Macau, Dr Carlos Monjardino, said the agreement was very good and considerate as it clearly showed that China had given thorough considerations to the question of nationality for local-born Portuguese.

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