TNAG-1869-FCO40-2657-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1989 — Page 78

Article published in "Correio da Manhã" 03.07.89 (p 22)

MELANCIA SAYS THAT MACAU HAS NOTHING TO FEAR

complacent

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The Governor of Macau, Carlos Melancia, said yesterday that the consequences of the recent events in Peking were not as important as had been assumed; he added that the great internal political and military contradictions manifest in the Chinese

cultural regime were not new, and recalled the so-called revolution".

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In an interview with the "Grande Auditorio" programme, from Renascença Radio/Semanario, Carlos Melancia, however, again reaffirmed that the repressive way in which the Chinese authorities had acted against student demonstrators in Tiananmen Square was "unacceptable". In his view, the consequences of these events manifested themselves mainly in the increased importance attached to political structures. He commented that before Tiananmem, Macau's political structures weren't considered to be indispensable, but this attitude had changed. Macau people were now aware of the importance of a Legislative Assembly to which deputies were elected by suffrage, as well as of local assemblies, seen as a guarantee of democracy.

Portugal in better conditions

The Governor of Macau also expressed his understanding that Portugal was in a more favourable condition than Great Britain in the negotiations which both countries maintained with China over Macau and Hong Kong. In the declaration signed jointly by Portugal and by China it is agreed that the system now in force will be maintained after 1997, so that Macau has more guarantees that democracy will be respected; while in Hong Kong's case, Peking names its Ambassador, a fact that is disturbing Great Britain, aacording to Carlos Melancia.

He also defended the need for Portugal to grant Macau greater autonomy to its respective Governor and to its Legislative Assembly, in order that this autonomy be maintained later in relation to the Chinese administration.