TNAG-2496-FCO40-3632-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macao-(Macau)-1992 — Page 116

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FORMER GOVERNOR MELANCIA THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS WITH TDM WERE

ENSHRINED IN A CONTRACT WHICH RUNS UNTIL THE YEAR 2005 WITHOUT THE

CHINESE BEING CONSULTED.

5. THE CHINESE HAVE CONTINUED TO PRESS THE PORTUGUESE ON

LOCALISATION, WHILE THE PORTUGUESE HAVE REFUSED TO ADOPT ETHNIC CRITERIA FOR RECRUITMENT TO THE MACAU ADMINISTRATION. THEY HAVE

TRIED TO CONVINCE THE CHINESE THAT THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN IN TERMS OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, BUT THE CHINESE REMAIN SUSPICIOUS THAT MACAU WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT A PROPER ADMINISTRATION

IN 1999. THESE FEARS ARE FUELLED BY THE GUARANTEE ENJOYED BY SOME 5,000 MACAU CIVIL SERVANTS OF REINTEGRATION INTO THE PORTUGUESE BUREAUCRACY (CATARINO SUGGESTS HOWEVER THAT ONLY HALF WOULD BE LIKELY TO TAKE THIS UP).

6.

FOR CATARINO THE MOST IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENT OF THE RECENT JLG

WAS CHINESE AGREEMENT TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE THE QUESTION OF AIR TRAFFIC AGREEMENTS. THE PORTUGUESE FIRST PRESENTED A MODEL AGREEMENT 18 MONTHS AGO BUT THE CHINESE

THEN STALLED. CATARINO SUGGESTS THAT THE RECENT DECISION ON

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AIRPORT ENCOURAGED THEM TO OPEN THE WAY TO PROGRESS, PARTICULARLY AS CHINESE COMPANIES WILL BE DOING MUCH OF THE RECLAMATION WORK.

7"

THE PORTUGUESE REMAIN WORRIED ABOUT CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE BASIC LAW FOR MACAU, PARTICULARLY THE DEATH PENALTY AND CIVIL RIGHTS (THE PORTUGUESE REGRET FAILING TO INTRODUCE A REFERENCE TO

THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS INTO THE JOINT DECLARATION). ON INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS, THE JLG AGREED IN PRINCIPLE ON A MACANESE APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC

TELECOMMUNITY.

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