TNAG-1738-FCO40-2454-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1988 — Page 22

SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING WITH PORTUGUESE FOREIGN

MINISTER: 11 MARCH

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MACAU BACKGROUND

1. Macau has a land area of 6 square miles and a

population of 420,000 (including some 10,000 of mixed Portuguese/Chinese decent and 80,000 ethnic Chinese

nolding Portuguese passports). It is located 40 miles

South-West of Hong Kong. Exports, mainly textiles,

amounted to US $ 1.4 billion in 1987 (30% above 1986).

GDP is also about US $1.4 billion. Tourism from Hong Kong and taxes on gamblin are important sources of

revenue.

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2.

Macau has been Portuguese since the 1550s and it is

to be returned to China on 20 December 1999 under the

Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration signed on 13 April

1987, and ratified on

3. The terms of the Joint Declaration on Macau are very

similar to those of the UK/China Joint Declaration on

Hong Kong. The wording of the Chinese memorandum on

nationality questions associated with the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration is also very similar to that of their

Chinese memorandum on nationality questions in relation to Hong Kong associated with the UK/China Joint Declaration But under existing Portuguese nationality law holders of Portuguese passports in Maau have right of abode in Portugal, whereas British Dependent Territory Citizens and British Nationals (Overseas) in Hong Kong do

not have right of abode in the UK. (Mr Hum's submission

of 1 May 1987 explains the differences in more detail).

on How King

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CONFIDENTIAL