TNAG-2290-FCO40-3296-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1991 — Page 191

RESTRICTED

165377

MDTTAN 9808

INDIRECT ELECTIONS. PEOPLE I SPOKE TO, INCLUDING 2 ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, WERE VAGUE ON THE CHANGES AND I DID NOT SEE D'ASSUMPCAO FOR MORE DETAIL.

4. THE PROBLEM WITH THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY IS THE ABSENCE OF

ANY GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATION. ASSEMBLY AND ADMINISTRATION IS

EFFECTIVELY SEPARATED: ON THE ONE HAND PORTUGUESE OFFICIALS CREATE LAWS IN PORTUGUESE, AND ON THE OTHER CHINESE MEMBERS (VERY FEW OF WHOM UNDERSTAND PORTUGUESE) COMPETE IN ELECTIONS. THE HONG

KONG PRESS OCCASIONALLY POINTS TO MACAU'S DEMOCRACY IN THE

SENSE THAT THIRD OF THE ASSEMBLY IS DIRECTLY ELECTED BUT THE

MACANESE THEMSELVES KNOW IT IS ALL A BIT OF A NONSENSE AND

(DON'T) VOTE ACCORDINGLY.

SIGNED: GRAHAM.

NNNN

-

PAGE

2

RESTRICTED