TNAG-2290-FCO40-3296-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1991 — Page 224

HKBC20/6

RESTRICTED

FM LISBON

- 。 OCT 1990

TO TELELETTER FCO

TELELETTER NFR

•

RESTRICTED

XXXED

SED

Маја

Mis Major of

Mr Burns.

TRY

von Taken

OF 01145OZ OCTOBER 1990

que for

072627 MDTTAN 9225

3150

AND TO TELELETTER PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG AND TO TELELETTER HONG KONG, SED!

FOR MISS P MAJOR, HKD

FROM J BUCK

MACAU: GOVERNOR MELANCIA RESIGNS

1. GOVERNOR CARLOS MELANCIA ARRIVED IN LISBON ON THE EVENING OF 27 SEPTEMBER AND IMMEDIATELY ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO TENDER HIS RESIGNATION TO PRESIDENT SOARES, FOLLOWING THE PORTUGUESE ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DECISION THAT THERE WAS A PRIMA FACIE CORRUPTION CASE FOR MELANCIA TO ANSWER IN CONNECTION WITH THE GERMAN FIRM WEIDLEPLAN'S ATTEMPTS TO WIN CONTRACTS IN MACAU. SOARES LATER ACCEPTED MELANCIA'S RESIGNATION, WHILE AFFIRMING HIS BELIEF IN THE GOVERNOR'S INNOCENCE. HE APPOINTED MURTEIRA NABO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY, AS INTERIM HEAD OF THE MACAU GOVERNMENT, ADDING THAT IT WAS FOR THE NEW PORTUGUESE PRESIDENT (WHO WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE SOARES HIMSELF) TO APPOINT A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT FOR MELANCIA AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS EARLY NEXT YEAR.

COMMENT

2. MELANCIA'S RESIGNATION FOLLOWS A MOUNTING CRESCENDO OF PRESS STORIES ABOUT HIS ALLEGED TAKING OF BRIBES FROM THE WEST GERMAN FIRM WEIDLEPLAN DURING THE COMPETITION FOR CONTRACTS FOR THE NEW AIRPORT IN MACAU. MELANCIA SAYS THAT HE WILL NOW BE ABLE TO DEFEND HIMSELF MORE EFFECTIVELY AGAINST SUCH ACCUSATIONS, HAVING BEEN FORCED 'FOR REASONS OF STATE' TO 'MAINTAIN SILENCE' HITHERTO (NOT COMPLETE SILENCE THOUGH: HE HAS THREATENED TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THOSE WHO HAVE LEAKED INFORMATION TO THE PRESS). 'DIARIO DE NOTICIAS, PORTUGAL'S LEADING DAILY NEWSPAPER, PUBLISHED OVER THE WEEKEND A PERSUASIVE ACCOUNT, BASED ON LEAKED EXTRACTS FROM THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S REPORT, OF MELANCIA'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE WEIDLEPLAN SCANDAL. GIVEN THE PACE OF PORTUGUESE JUSTICE, IT IS LIKELY TO BE SOME TIME BEFORE THERE IS A JUDICIAL VERDICT.

SIGNED JS BUCK

YYYY

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