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3.
There are clear signs that the Portuguese are
experiencing many of the same problems with the Chinese as
we are. It appears that the Chinese are refusing to
cooperate over Macau's plans for a new airport by holding up deliveries of sand and complaining about possible noise
pollution (BTC Hong Kong teleletter of 12 February). The Chinese have of course taken a very tough line over the Hong
Kong Government's Airport proposal and their attitude to
the Macau airport shows they are not averse to causing
problems even after agreement in principle has been
reached. We would not however wish to engage in detailed discussion of this issue with the Portuguese as their
problems are more practical ones whereas ours are more of
principle and political manouevring. Portuguese JLG
officials also complain that the Chinese are blocking progress in the Sino-Portuguese Land Commission with
constant demands for information which the Macanese
authorities are unwilling to provide: in contrast relations
to date in the Sino-British Land Commission have been good.
4. The Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen is due to
visit Lisbon at the end of February as part of a European tour which also includes Spain. Portugal may raise human
rights following recent action by the Twelve, as well as the prospects for their own relations with China. But a major theme of his talks with Portuguese Ministers is
likely to be Macau. It wouuld be useful to obtain an
account of the exchanges which will have taken place and
Portuguese perception of Chinese policy on Macau.
Macau Internal
5.
Macau's Governor, Carlos Melancia, resigned on
27 September 1990 amid much rumour and speculation about corruption in the Macanese administration and his alleged
taking of bribes during the competition for contracts for
Macau's airport construction project (Lisbon teleletter
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