TNAG-1869-FCO40-2657-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1989 — Page 151

HKB 020/4.

CONFIDENTIAL

FM LISBON

TO TELELETTER FCO

TELELETTER NFR

OF 131048Z APRIL 89

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr McLaren

Mr Paul

2. Miss Master 3/4 Mr Canyon 15/4

3. Enter then. 27/ iv poh

COPIES TO CHANCERY PEKING, BTC HONG KONG, JLG HONG KONG

COPY TO GDB HONG KONG

FOR C T WOOD, HONG KONG DEPT, F CO FROM K D EVETTS, LISBON

MACAU: FOURTH JLG

д

147350

MDTTAN 6880

комер

See (10)

1. THE FOURTH MEETING OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP FOR MACAU TOOK PLACE IN LISBON 3-4 APRIL, WITH ''INFORMAL MEETINGS''

OVER TWO FURTHER DAYS.

2. I UNDERSTAND FROM CARLOS GASPAR (PRESIDENT SOARES' ADVISER) THAT

IT WAS AGREED THE JLG WOULD BE THE FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH WOULD BE

DISCUSSED MODIFICATIONS TO THE PRESENT MACAU STATUTE, AND THE DRAFTING OF THE NEW CHINESE BASIC LAW. HE DESCRIBED THIS AS A

TICKLISH POINT FOR THE PORTUGUESE INASMUCH AS STRICTLY SPEAKING

THE ASSEMBLIES IN MACAU AND LISBON WERE THE BODIES IN WHICH

CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE STATUTES SHOULD TAKE PLACE. THE

JLG DID NOT GET AS FAR AS SETTING UP A WORKING GROUP ON LEGISLATION.

3. THE CHINESE WOULD NOT WISH TO SEE MAJOR CHANGES IN THE MACAU STATUTE BEFORE THE BASIC LAW IS DRAFTED, BUT MEANWHILE COULD ACCEPT

MINOR AMENDMENTS. THESE WOULD PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER

OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AND IN THE NUMBER OF DEPUTIES

TO THE GOVERNOR, AND FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SECOND TIER IN THE JUDICIARY. ON THE FORMER, GASPAR SAID THAT FOLLOWING THE ELECTIONS THE PRESIDENT OF THE MACAU ASSEMBLY HAD THREATENED TO RESIGN, BUT THAT HE HAD BEEN PERSUADED TO STAY ON IN THAT CAPACITY IN THE EXPECTATION THAT THERE WOULD BE A CHANGE IN THE BALANCE OF THE ASSEMBLY. THIS COULD BE ACHIEVED ONLY BY ADDING MORE ASSEMBLYMEN. GASPAR, NOTING THAT FROM LISBON'S POINT OF VIEW THE PRESENT BALANCE WAS NO PROBLEM, THOUGHT THAT THREE NEW SEATS WOULD BE ESTABLISHED, ONE IN EACH GROUP (THIS HAD NOT BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE CHINESE: NEITHER WOULD IT COMPLETELY SATISFY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSEMBLY). AS TO THE GOVERNOR'S DEPUTIES, THE TWO MAIN AREAS IN WHICH NEW POSTS WOULD BE CREATED (AT THE GOVERNOR'S REQUEST) WERE SECURITY MATTERS AND TRANSITIONAL AFFAIRS. THE CHINESE, WHO DID NOT APPEAR TO UNDERSTAND THAT SECURITY WAS A RESIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ARMY RATHER THAN OF THE GOVERNOR UNDER THE PRESENT SYSTEM, AND THAT THIS

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CONFIDENTIAL