TNAG-2290-FCO40-3296-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1991 — Page 63

?

DPA

RESTRICTED

PA CR 1/1216/85

73

ow the duette 619

HKCO20 // IN Shore

RECC

M Saim

6/9

12 SEP 1551

Macau Basic Law (Draft)

Mn

Stanis

Interestiny.

Pe

Pras 19

Please refer to the minute from Mr. Wye (RAD, FCO)

of 6 August to Mr. Cox (HKD) already copied to you and

copy addressees which discusses the absence from the Macau Basic Draft Law of any explicit reference to the

stationing of Chinese troops in the Macau SAR. On this point you may be interested in the following explanation given by Xu Chongde, a professor at the People's University

in Peking, who is a member of the drafting committee for

the Macau Basic Law. Xu was quoted in the China Daily of

18 July as saying that the Central Government would not station troops in Macau after 1999 and that this was

"largely due to Macau's special geographical location".

added that unlike Hong Kong which was on China's coastal

front line Macau was almost encircled by Zhuhai and

military forces in Zhuhai could defend it if required.

Moreover he said, the Portuguese had no military forces in

Macau.

He

2.

Professor Xu's remarks suggest that the Chinese do

not at present intend to station military forces in the

Máčas

future,SAR.

SAR.

M Dalke

(Kenneth C. Walker) Senior Research Officer Political Adviser's Office 21 August 1991

CC

SCA AG

LO (IL)

PA o.r.

Mr. N Cox, HKD, FCO Mr. R Wye, RAD, FCO

RESTRICTED