TNAG-2290-FCO40-3296-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1991 — Page 233

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HKCOZO/1

20 FEB 1991

12

033222 MDTTAN 7637

RESTRICTED

FM BTC HONG KONG

TO TELELETTER DTI

TELELETTER NFR

OF 120102Z FEBRUARY 91

AND TO TELELETTER LISBON, PEKING, FCO

FROM: RICHARD GRAHAM, BTC

FOR: JOHN GALLAHER ESQ, PEP 1, DTI COPIED TO: STEPHEN BRADLEY ESQ, DPA, HKG

J S BUTT ESQ, LISBON

S RIORDAN ESQ, PEKING

C SAINTY ESQ, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT,

SAINTY

MACAU'S FRUSTRATION AT AIRPORT IMPASSE

Mr Stme

FCO

ра

масло.

1. DURING A DISCUSSION WITH MICHAEL COLVIN MP AND MACAU DIPLOMATIC ADVISER JOSE FONSECA ON FRIDAY 8 FEBRUARY IT EMERGED THAT TALKS WITH THE CHINESE ON MACAU'S AIRPORT DURING THE WEEK HAD ALMOST COMPLETELY BROKEN DOWN.

2. FINSECA SAID THAT PUBLIC WORKS UNDER SECRETARY VASCONCELOS AND AIRPORT COMPANY CHAIRMAN FERREIRA HAD TAKEN THE LINE THAT THE CHINESE HAD PROMISED A RESPONSE ON MACAU'S CASE ON POSSIBLE ENVIROMENTAL POLLUTION FROM THE AIRPORT BY THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY AT THE LATEST. IT WAS NOW FEBRUARY: WHAT WAS THEIR RESPONSE? THE CHINESE HAD SAID THEY NEEDED MORE TIME TO STUDY THE SITUATION AND MAKE A DECISION.

3. FERREIRA IN PARTICULAR HAD EXPLODED AND SAID THAT THE AIRPORT HAD ALREADY BEEN DELAYED A YEAR FIRSTLY BY INADEQUATE SAND DELIVERIES AND SECONDLY BY THE TALKS ON NOISE POLLUTION. IF THE CHINESE DID NOT RESPOND SOON MACAU WOULD BE OBLIGED TO CANCEL THE PROJECT AND EXPLAIN PUBLICLY THAT THE REASON WAS DUE TO LACK OF CHINESE CO-OPERATION. (FONSECA ADDED THAT THE SINO-LUSITANIAN JOINT DECLARATION INCLUDED THE PHRASE THAT CO-OPERATION ON MACAU 'SHOULD BE IN A FRIENDLY MANNER'. MACAU DID NOT BELIEVE THIS CONTINUED DELAY WAS IN ANY WAY FRIENDLY.)

4. I ASKED WHAT THE CHINESE REACTION HAD BEEN FONSECA (WHO WAS NOT PRESENT AT THE MEETING) SAID THE CHINESE HAD ASKED THAT NO DECISIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TOO QUICKLY (THERE SEEMED LITTLE DANGER OF THIS HAPPENING ON THE CHINESE SIDE), AND THAT THEY WOULD TRY

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