RESTRICTED
FM LISBON
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 143
OF 21143OZ MARCH 91
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010611
MDLIAN 7818
RESTRICTED
HKCO20/1
25 MAR 1991
TOP COP- Q DIST?
GISTR Action Taat
ра
Macau.
INFO ROUTINE BTC HONG KONG UKREP JLG HONG KONG, HONG KONG, DTI
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BTC HONG KONG TELNO 101: NEW GOVERNOR OF MACAU
1. PRESIDENT SOARES' OFFICE YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO NOMINATE GENERAL ROCHA VIEIRA AS GOVERNOR OF MACAU. THE APPOINTMENT HAS YET TO BE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL OF STATE (PRIVY COUNCIL EQUIVALENT) BUT THIS IS NOW A FORMALITY. SOARES WILL CERTAINLY HAVE ENSURED BEFORE TAKING MATTERS THIS FAR THAT VIEIRA'S APPOINTMENT IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT.
2. VIEIRA'S NOMINATION FOLLOWED MONTHS OF SPECULATION IN LISBON AS
WELL AS IN MACAU. SOARES' FIRST PREFERENCE IS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN ERNANI LOPES, A FORMER SOCIALIST FINANCE MINISTER, BUT HE APPARENTLY REFUSED THE JOB. AS REPORTED IN TUR COSTA BRAZ, THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSIONER, WAS THEN SAID TO BE IN THE RUNNING. DURING THE LAST WEEK OR TWO, HOWEVER, ROCHA VIEIRA EMERGED AS THE CLEAR FAVOURITE.
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3. VIEIRA'S BIOGRAPHY IS GIVEN ON PAGE 80 OF THE LISBON LPR. AS
WELL AS SERVING PREVIOUSLY IN MACAU, HE HAS BEEN PORTUGUESE ARMED FORCES REPRESENTATIVE TO SHAPE AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL DEFENCE INSTITUTE. SINCE 1986 HE HAS BEEN MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC FOR THE AZORES. HIS TIME THERE HAS BEEN MARKED BY CONTINUAL CONFLICT WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, CONFLICT WHICH HAD ITS ROOTS IN INSTITUTIONAL RIVALRY BUT SEEMS AT TIMES TO HAVE BECOME INTENSELY PERSONAL. VIEIRA HIMSELF CAN SEEM A COOL AND RATHER BUTTONED-UP CHARACTER, BUT HE HAS SENSITIVE POLITICAL ANTENNAE AND A REPUTATION AS A SMART MOVER BEHIND THE SCENES. IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE HIS ESTABLISHING A BACK-SLAPPING RELATIONSHIP WITH MACANESE AND FOREIGN BUSINESSMEN, BUT GIVEN MACAU'S RECENT HISTORY THIS MAY BE NO BAD THING.
ARBUTHNOTT
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