TNAG-2290-FCO40-3296-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1991 — Page 168

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TO THE PORTUGUESE CIVIL SERVICE. THEY WERE CURRENTLY CONSIDERING HOW THIS MIGHT BE ACHIEVED, AND RECOGNISED THAT IT WOULD BE A SENSITIVE PROBLEM, BOTH IN PORTUGAL AND MACAU. THEY HAD REITERATED TO THE CHINESE THAT THIS WAS NOT A MATTER FOR NEGOTIATION, BUT HAD ALLOWED THE CHINESE TO MAKE TWO POINTS:

A) THE CHINESE COULD NOT ACCEPT DUAL STATUS FOR MACAU FUNCTIONARIES. ANY CIVIL SERVANT STAYING IN MACAU BEYOND 1999 AND CONTINUING TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION SHOULD SEVER HIS LINKS WITH PORTUGAL.

B) THE CHINESE WANTED THOSE PORTUGUESE CIVIL SERVANTS WISHING TO RETURN TO PORTUGAL TO DO SO (OR AT LEAST TO MAKE THEIR PREFERENCE CLEAR) IMMEDIATELY. (THE PORTUGUESE DEADLINE BEFORE WHICH CIVIL SERVANTS WILL HAVE TO OPT TO RETURN IS DECEMBER 1993, BUT THE CHINESE REGARD THIS AS TOO LATE.)

10 THERE HAD BEEN NO REAL MOVEMENT ON THE QUESTION OF PORTUGUESE CONSULAR PREMISES AND LAND FOR CHINESE GOVERNMENT OFFICES. CATARINO SUGGESTED THAT THE CHINESE COULD NOT BE BLAMED: THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN THE ABSENCE OF A GOVERNOR. THERE HAD NOT BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION OF THE LAND COMMISSION, ALTHOUGH THIS CONTINUED TO BE A BONE OF CONTENTION ON THE GROUND. THE CHINESE HAD EXPRESSED SOME ANXIETY AS TO WHETHER ROCHA VIEIRA'S APPOINTMENT AS GOVERNOR WOULD ENTAIL ANY CHANGES OF POLICY. CATARINO HAD REASSURED THEM. (CATARINO SUGGESTED TO BUCK THAT ROCHA VIEIRA WAS WELL QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB. HE WAS BALANCED, CAUTIOUS AND HAD INTEGRITY. HIS ONE HANDICAP WAS A LACK OF FINANCIAL EXPERTISE, WHICH MIGHT BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT OVER THE COMING YEARS).

11. IN RESPONSE TO BUCK'S QUESTION, CATARINO SAID THAT NO DATE HAD YET BEEN FIXED FOR PINHEIRO TO VISIT CHINA, ALTHOUGH HE HAD ACCEPTED AN INVITATION IN PRINCIPLE. CATARINO MENTIONED THAT THE CHINESE MINISTER OF JUSTICE WOULD BE VISITING LISBON DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY.

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