TNAG-1869-FCO40-2657-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1989 — Page 139

cditions are ripe" and that they should not be discussed by the United Nations or listed as "colonial territories" in any UN

documents.

Macau's relations with Hong Kong

4. Macau lies 60 km East of Hong Kong on the other side of the

mouth of the Pearl River. It is the oldest European settlement in the Far East. Hong Kong interests have a large stake in the Macau

economy and dominate in such areas as transport between Hong Kong

and Macau, and the casinos. Much of the money for proposed

development projects can be expected to come from Hong Kong.

5.

Since 1980, it has been the practice of the Macau authorities to

redirect boats of refugees from Vietnam to Hong Kong. Since

mid-1981 this practice has become general, despite official Portuguese representations to the effect that this is done only to

help those who have expressed a wish to continue their journey to

Hong Kong. While this is sometimes true, there are well-documented cases where refugees have been towed out to sea despite their wish

to find asylum in Macau itself. About one boat in four arriving in

Hong Kong is believed to have previously called at Macau.

ESSENTIAL FACTS

6.

AREA:

15.5 sq km: Macau City, Islands of Taipa and Coloane

POPULATION:

1981 estimate: 350,000, 98% ethnic Chinese

There are between 2,000 and 3,000 Portuguese

nationals living in Macau.

7.

POLITICAL:

Constitution: The Statute of Macau of February 1976 has the

force of a Constitutional law.

8.

Legislative

Assembly:

Seventeen members, five appointed by the

Governor, six elected directly and six