TNAG-1849-FCO40-2624-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 23

MAY '89 19:50 FROM COI TECH RADIO

UJJ ULLU

AGE.021

TRANSCRIPT I

—

SELECT COMMITTEE OF HONG KONG

24 MAY 1989

5

CHAIRMAN (CONT):

Are we clear then that the citizens of Macao, who

have been declared Portuguese citizens, are BC nationals

or are they subject to some immigration policy when they

try to get into Portugal and are we clear about the

citizens of French-dependent territories or are they EC

nationals? Are all these people as it were inside the

Buropean Community already even if they live the other

side of the world, or do they face hurdles of immigration

policy should they wish to come into the Community

anywhere, including this country, and work?

MR BOVRN VALLS:

On the Macao citizenship, I think the Minister said

that the citizens of Xacaq had always been Portuguese

citizens so that there has not been any need to suddenly

declare that they are Portuguese citizens, is that so?

MR BETON:

Yes. Well first to deal with Mr Bowen Wells yes,

that is quite correct. Our understanding is that there

has been no sudden change in the status of Portuguese

living in Macao. Macap has for many years, it probably

goes back to its Imperial days, had a policy that

throughout metropolitan Portugal that those living outside

Portugal, I cannot say whether that was in particularly