RESTRICTED
59
040023 MDLIAN 4050
RESTRICTED
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE LISBON
TELNO 2
OF 18083OZ AUGUST 89
AND TO ROUTINE FCO, DTI
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, PEKING
MACAO
НКВ
02014
сторный
1. DURING A ONE-DAY VISIT, AS CONSUL GENERAL, TO MACAO LAST WEEK, I CALLED ON ENG LUIS VASCONCELOS, SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECTS, AND WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF THE MORE IMPRESSIVE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION. IT WAS MY ONLY GOVERNMENT
APPOINTMENT: OTHERS WERE COMMERCIAL. HE MADE TWO UNRELATED POINTS OF INTEREST:
(I) ON THE NATIONALITY ISSUE HE SAID THAT MACAO HAD NOW ISSUED 120,000 PORTUGUESE PASSPORTS TO MACAO CITIZENS CARRYING THE RIGHT OF RESIDENCE IN PORTUGAL, AND SAID THEY THOUGHT THAT ABOUT ANOTHER 30,000 QUALIFIED BUT HAD NOT SO FAR APPLIED. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FIGURE FOR PASSPORTS ISSUED THAN WE HAVE HEARD BEFORE. IT IS ANOTHER INDICATION HOWEVER THAT THERE ARE AS MANY FIGURES BANDIED AROUND ON THIS ISSUE AS THERE ARE PEOPLE TO ASK.
(II) THE AIRPORT PROJECT, IN WHICH BRITISH AIRPORT SERVICES LIMITED ARE SIGNIFICANTLY INVOLVED, IS UNDERWAY, ALTHOUGH SLIGHTLY BEHIND SCHEDULE. AS PART OF THE PROJECT THERE WILL BE A DIRECT ROAD INTO MACAO WITH CHINESE CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION FACILITIES AVAILABLE AT THE AIRPORT FOR THOSE ENTERING OR LEAVING CHINA. VASCONCELOS SAID THAT THEY EXPECTED TO DRAW A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF THEIR TRAFFIC FROM THE MAINLAND.
2. FROM OTHER CALLS IT WAS CLEAR THAT MACAO WAS BOOMING ECONOMICALLY AND HAS BEEN LITTLE AFFECTED BY EVENTS IN CHINA. EVEN THE TOURIST TRAFFIC, WHICH HAS BEEN DOWN IN HONG KONG AND ALMOST OBLITERATED IN GUANGDONG, HAS HELD UP WELL. THE BRITISH PRESENCE IN MACAO IS ALSO ON THE INCREASE WITH THE PRESENCE OF BRITISH AIRPORT SERVICES PEOPLE, THE SUCCESS OF THE BRITISH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY KIER IN A MAJOR NEW RACECOURSE PROJECT, AND THE ENGAGEMENT OF LARGELY BRITISH PERSONNEL AS RACE OFFICIALS, ALTHOUGH OVERALL OF COURSE IT IS STILL A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY.
1
PAGE RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.